BEIJING Chinese President Xi Jinping has further consolidated his position in the countrys ruling party, after key changes were made to the Communist Party of Chinas (CPC) charter.

Some 2,300 party members on Saturday voted unanimously to pass the changes to the partys top guiding document at the end of a week-long party congress, held once every five years in Beijing.

They include enshrining new developments to Mr Xis political ideology, also known as Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.

The full text of the amendment has not yet been released, so it is not immediately clear what the changes are, but according to an announcer explaining the changes to the party charter, it appears to include the incorporation of the term two establishments (liangge queli), which refers to establishing Mr Xis core status in the party, and his ideas as the partys guiding principles.

A second slogan two safeguards (liangge weihu), which refers to safeguarding the core status of Mr Xi within the party and the partys centralised authority, also appeared to be included.

Explaining the reasoning behind the changes, an announcer said they were necessary in order for the party to resolve the acute problems and challenges undermining its long-term governance, the security and stability of the country, and the wellbeing of the people.

In his speech to close off the congress, Mr Xi said that the amendments sets out clear requirements for upholding and strengthening the partys overall leadership.

Since its founding in 1921, the CPC has amended its charter at each party congress to reflect the changing political doctrines that guide that party.

In the last party congress in 2017, the charter was amended to include Mr Xis political ideology Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

He is the only leader apart from Mao Zedong that had his political doctrine included in the charter while still in office.

These changes passed at the closing of the party congress on Saturday showed Mr Xi was firmly at the helm of the Communist Party. He is expected to be receive a norm-breaking third term when the party elite meet on Sunday to elect the partys new leadership.

Experts also say the changes indicate that that Mr Xi has further bolstered his already considerable authority within the party and consolidated his clout.

It would make opposition against Mr Xi more difficult, say analysts, as any divergent views could be seen as an attack on the party. More On This Topic How is China's Communist Party changing its Constitution? Hu Jintao leaves stage unexpectedly at closing session of CPC congress But centralising so much authority in the hands of one man is dangerous, said political analystWillyLam, an adjunct professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong .

The risk is that if Xi makes a dubious or a wrong decision, there would be nobody powerful enough to correct him. For example, if he wants to invade Taiwan, or to do something hawkish and against the western alliance led by the US, nobody can stop him, said Prof Lam.

Associate ProfessorAlfredWufrom the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said it was another indication of one-man rule within the party, and a personality cult forming around Chinas top leader.

If we look at the history of the PRC, particularly the later years of Mao Zedong a lot of disasters happened because there were no checks and balances and Mao appointed a lot of his supporters to leadership positions, said Prof Wu. More On This Topic Li Keqiang, Wang Yang not in new leadership line-up as President Xi tightens grip on power Guangdong chief Li Xi set to be Chinas new anti-corruption czar Delegates and journalists had a little dose of drama at the usually staid closing session of the congress on Saturday.

At about 11am, as top leaders including Mr Xi sat on the stage at the Great Hall of the People, former leader Hu Jintao, 79, who was sitting next to Mr Xi, was seen being persuaded by two men to leave. A frail-looking Mr Hu appeared reluctant, even after one of them pulled him up from his chair.

As he was about to be escorted off the stage, Mr Hu said something to Mr Xi, to which the latter nodded. He also appeared to have said something to his protege, Premier Li Keqiang, and patted him on the shoulder. No explanation was given for his sudden departure. Embed Twitter Tweet URL More On This Topic Covering Chinas party congress in a time of Covid-19 Xi's China Dream – its appeal and dangers