Li Qiang is number two in the Chinese Communist Party hierarchy behind Party leader Xi Jinping.
(Photo: REUTERS)
Beijing When the new leadership of the Communist Party introduced itself to the public in October, all eyes were on the man who entered the meeting room in the great hall of the people behind China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping. Because in the strongly staged Chinese political spectacle, the dramaturgical order of those entering reveals their future rank in the party hierarchy.
To the surprise of many, Xi was followed at a suitable distance by former Shanghai party leader Li Qiang. The man who is politically responsible for the two-month corona lockdown in the financial metropolis.
Traditionally, the number two in the party takes over the post of head of government. It is expected that the new prime minister will be given the nod at the National People’s Congress.
Only one character in the name distinguishes the 63-year-old from his predecessor Li Keqiang. But the differences between the two men could not be greater.
The outgoing Premier Li Keqiang is seen as a protégé of former head of state and party leader Hu Jintao and as a representative of the so-called Communist Youth League. Under Xi Jinping, however, this has lost much of its influence. Li Keqiang’s leeway gradually narrowed during his tenure.
Li Qiang will be the first prime minister in decades to take office without any experience in central government. But he has a powerful sponsor, the most powerful imaginable in China: party leader Xi.
Rapid rise to Shanghai party leader
The two men have been working closely together for almost 20 years. From 2004 to 2007, when Xi was party leader of the economically strong east China province of Zhejiang, Li served under him as general secretary of the provincial party.
As prime minister, Li Qiang (2nd from left) is supposed to get China’s economy going again.
(Photo: AP)
Li rose to become governor in late 2012, becoming number two in the province, where he remained until 2016. In 2015 he was allowed to accompany Xi, who has since risen to the position of head of state and party leader, on his first state visit to the USA. The following year, he was promoted to Party chief of Jiangsu Province.
Just 15 months later, he assumed the important key position as party leader in Shanghai, China’s most important economic and financial center. At the same time, he was promoted to the 19th Politburo of the Communist Party, the real power and decision-making center in communist China.
Li is considered business-friendly, tech-savvy and pragmatic. Even in his home province of Zhejiang, he maintained close contacts with the local tech industry, including Alibaba founder Jack Ma.
As party leader of Shanghai, he attracted numerous foreign investors and companies to the city. Tesla was the first foreign car company without Chinese participation to receive a production license and built a gigafactory in Shanghai. Li is also considered the idea generator for the Star Market technology segment on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, which Xi Jinping even announced personally in November 2018 – contrary to the record.
Strict corona policy
But then came the corona pandemic. Li initially tried only to slow the spread of the virus in Shanghai and thus control the number of infected people. But then he received instructions from Beijing to initiate the lockdown. Li obeyed and imposed a strict two-month lockdown in the 25 million metropolis with devastating consequences for people, the economy and reputation at home and abroad.
Despite a 40-year party career, he was written off by many. But his role in the fight against Covid in Shanghai, which was sharply criticized not only in the West, did him no harm. On the contrary, unconditional obedience secured him the favor of Xi and is considered a prerequisite for his rise.
Li imposed a strict two-month lockdown in the 25 million metropolis.
(Photo: dpa)
Because of his absolute loyalty, Li now apparently enjoys more freedom than his predecessor. When the number of corona infections in China rose sharply in November, the party leadership apparently wavered between lockdown and easing. Li, then chairman of the Covid task force, is said to have convinced the allegedly hesitant Xi and pushed through the opening. This was recently reported by the Reuters news agency with reference to insiders. If true, Li would be one of the few to disagree with Xi.
As Prime Minister of the People’s Republic, Li Qiang also needs Xi’s trust in order to help the world’s second largest economy to grow again – despite growing tensions with the West and especially the USA.
The big question is how much leeway Xi gives him. From now on, Li Qiang has to prove that he can also use economic arguments to convince the all-powerful ideologue at the head of state.
More: Mission growth boost for China’s new government.