On the third day of the Chinese Communist Party’s Two Sessions, CCP leader Xi Jinping participated in the customary joint meeting of the CPPCC. National Committee of the CPPCC Vice Chairman Hu Chunhua, who had accompanied Xi in the past two years, was absent this year.
According to Xinhua News Agency, on the afternoon of March 6, 2026, CCP leader Xi Jinping attended the joint meeting of the National Committee of the CPPCC of the 14th session of the Fourth Meeting with representatives from the Agricultural Workers’ Party, the 93 Society, the health and medical field, social welfare, and social security.
CCP Politburo Standing Committee member and Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC Wang Huning, and CCP Politburo Standing Committee member and Director of the General Office of the CCP Central Committee Cai Qi accompanied Xi at the meeting. Six deputy national-level officials including Shi Taifeng, He Wei, Wu Weihua, Shao Hong, Wang Dongfeng, and Yang Zhen also participated in the joint meeting.
In previous years, as reported by Xinhua News Agency, on March 6, 2025, Xi Jinping attended the joint meeting of the National Committee of the CPPCC of the 14th session of the Third Meeting with representatives from the Democratic National Construction Association, the China Democratic League, and the education sector. Politburo Standing Committee members Wang Huning and Cai Qi accompanied Xi. Eight deputy national-level officials participated in the joint meeting.
On the afternoon of March 6, 2024, Xi Jinping attended the joint meeting of the National Committee of the CPPCC of the 14th session of the Second Meeting with representatives from the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, the science and technology sector, and the environmental and resource field. Politburo Standing Committee members Wang Huning and Cai Qi accompanied Xi. Five deputy national-level officials participated in the joint meeting.
On March 6, 2023, Xi Jinping attended the joint meeting of the National Committee of the CPPCC of the 14th session of the First Meeting with representatives from the China Association for Promoting Democracy and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce. Politburo Standing Committee member and Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC for the 14th session Wang Huning, Politburo Standing Committee members Cai Qi and Ding Xuexiang accompanied Xi. Four deputy national-level officials participated in the joint meeting.
At the first session of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC on March 10, 2023, Wang Huning was appointed Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC. Shi Taifeng, Hu Chunhua, and 23 others were appointed Vice Chairmen of the National Committee of the CPPCC. Wang Huning later assumed the additional role of Secretary of the Party Group of the National Committee of the CPPCC, while Shi Taifeng and Hu Chunhua served as Deputy Secretaries of the Party Group of the National Committee of the CPPCC.
During the Two Sessions from 2023 to 2026, Wang Huning and Shi Taifeng accompanied Xi Jinping for four consecutive years in the joint meetings of the CPPCC. After serving as Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC, Hu Chunhua attended the joint meetings with Xi in 2024 and 2025 but broke the tradition by not attending this year.
According to state media reports, Hu Chunhua attended the opening sessions of the CPPCC and the National People’s Congress on the afternoons of March 4 and the mornings of March 5, respectively, seated on the presidium. On March 5, Hu Chunhua participated in discussions with members of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, emphasizing “the Party’s comprehensive leadership over the CPPCC” and mentioning slogans such as the “two establishes” and “two safeguards” associated with Xi.
Hu Chunhua, a prominent figure in the united front, was once considered a designated successor by Hu Jintao at the 18th National Congress of the CCP and a popular candidate for the Politburo Standing Committee at the 19th Congress. However, he only secured re-election as a member of the Politburo and transitioned from being the Party Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Committee to becoming a Vice Premier of the State Council.
At the 20th National Congress of the CCP in October 2022, Xi Jinping broke with tradition to serve another term. Hu Jintao was visibly escorted out of the venue, united front heavyweights and Politburo Standing Committee members Li Keqiang and Wang Yang stepped down, signaling a decline in the united front’s influence. The then 59-year-old Hu Chunhua relinquished his position as a member of the Politburo and moved to a less prominent role in the CPPCC.
Following the Third Plenum in July 2024, the power struggle within the top echelons of the CCP escalated as rumors about Xi Jinping’s health and power crisis circulated. Hu Chunhua’s high-profile activities amid this turmoil attracted external attention and interpretation. There were claims of Hu Chunhua’s close ties with the military and anti-Xi elders, with rumors even suggesting a potential comeback or succession for Hu Chunhua.