As China's rubber-stamp parliament gathers in Beijing this weekend, President Xi Jinping is expected to officially kick off his third term. China's Communist party will likely initiate further institutional reform.
As China continues to pivot away from its zero-COVID strategy, experts say the weeks-long protests in the country may have damaged Xi Jinping's reputation, but his power remains largely unaffected.
The future of China is in the hands of Xi Jinping and a cadre of loyalists. Experts warn this over-concentration of power could backfire if Xi's policies go wrong.
As China revealed the date of the 20th Party Congress, experts say the focus will be on Chinese President Xi Jinping's attempt to secure a third term and how he stacks the top decision-making organ with his loyalists.