Xi Jinping vows to oppose Taiwan ‘pro-independence’ influences as third term begins

China’s National People’s Congress has ended after a week in which allies of president Xi Jinping were elevated to key government positions. Photograph: Mark R Cristino/EPA

Xi Jinping has stressed the need to oppose “pro-independence” influences in Taiwan, as he closed the National People’s Congress (NPC) after a week in which the rubber-stamp parliament handed China’s president an unprecedented third presidential term, and key roles at the top of the government were reshuffled.

Xi closed the session with a speech to the gathered delegates. On Friday he secured his place as China’s most powerful leader in generations in a carefully choreographed ceremony in Beijing.