China‘s political elite is set to pass a resolution that has been adopted only twice in the ruling Communist Party’s history since it was founded a century ago and that helped consolidate the power of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. The sixth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee, the party’s top governing body, is under way in Beijing since Monday, with nearly 400 top party officials expected to affirm an unprecedented third term for President Xi Jinping through the so-called “historical resolution,” used by Mao and Deng in 1945 and 1981, respectively, to secure lifelong power and advance their doctrines on the country’s future.

Each Central Committee of China’s Communist Party holds seven plenary sessions over its five-year term.

Obama hits Russia, China for ‘lack of urgency’ on climate

Both Mao and Deng’s resolutions were named “Historical Resolution on Certain Questions in Party History Since the Founding of the PRC”. Xi’s resolution on “important achievements and historical experiences of the party’s 100 years of struggle”, the draft of which was reviewed by the party’s Poltiburo in October, will not only put him at par with towering leaders like Mao and Deng, but also help him consolidate power within the party.

Satellite images show China built mock-ups of US warships

The 2016 plenum acknowledged Xi as a “core” leader of the Communist Party, a title that previously ensured de facto veto powers for Mao, Dang and Jiang Zemin. The ‘historical resolution’ will also set the tone for next year’s 20th Party Congress, where Xi is set to assume a third term as China’s president, unlike his two predecessors, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, who both adhered to two five-year terms according to a constitutional limit, which China’s National People’s Congress, through a nearly unanimous vote, elected to abolish in 2018.

The ongoing plenary sessions also comes amid heightened tensions between China and the United States over Taiwan and other issues, and ahead of a yet-to-be scheduled virtual summit between presidents Xi and Joe Biden.