The Chinese parliament handed China’s president Xi Jingpin an unprecedented third term as the strongman build his profile to become one of China’s most powerful leaders in generations.

Xi Jingpin was handed the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)  which makes him the country’s president for a five more years.

The unanimous endorsement solidified Mr Xi’s hold on the world’s most populous nation even as he sidelined potential challengers and filled the party’s top ranks with his supporters since taking power in 2012.

Over the next two days, Xi-approved officials are set to be appointed or elected to fill top positions in the cabinet, including Li Qiang, who is expected to be named as premier – China’s No 2 post – putting him in charge of managing the world’s second largest economy.

Li was pictured shaking hands with Xi and smiling after the was confirmed as president. The two men, seated next to each other, also chatted casually as the voting process was underway.

He had himself named for a third five-year term as party general secretary in October, breaking with a tradition under which Chinese leaders handed over power once a decade.

The nearly 3,000 members of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s  parliament, voted unanimously for Xi after the constitution was changed to remove the traditional two-term limit for the post.

With China steadily rising to become a respected world power politically, Economically and militarily Xi Jingpin has been strong and assertive on the world stage even as they navigate various conflicts especially with Taiwan and in the South China Sea.

But the beginning of his unprecedented third term comes as the world’s second-largest economy faces major headwinds, from slowing growth and a troubled real estate sector to a declining birth rate.

Faced by a confident Taiwan which has been backed by USA, China is raring for a fight to reclaim the island nation which they maintain, is part of the China.

Couple the Taiwan crisis with the conflict in the south China sea which China claims it all in its entirety drawing credence to an ancient map which describes the nine dash line showing the extent of China’s territory, Xi Jingpin has his in tray full.

China has been a great supporter of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine albeit covertly. China has helped cushion Russia against sanctions set against them by the west. The Chinese have provided Russia with the market for its oil and other products.

Even as the war in Ukraine escalates China is mulling over providing just economic aid or it should up the ante and provide Russia with weapons now that America is openly arming Taiwan.