Xi hails China's rise, demands unity at Congress

President Xi Jinping hailed China's rise as a global power and demanded unity around his leadership, launching a Communist Party Congress that is set to rubber stamp his bid to rule for a historic third term.

In an opening address to 2,300 delegates gathered at the Great Hall of the People, Xi promoted and defended a range of signature policies -- including zero-Covid and his anti-corruption drive that has taken down rivals in the party.

"Unity is strength, and victory requires unity," Xi said after walking onstage to a thunderous reception from the hand-picked attendees who will vote during the week-long Congress on the party leadership for the next five years.

The president -- whose 10-year rule has seen the country become a global superpower -- said "China's international influence, appeal and power to shape the world has significantly increased".

During his 100-minute "work report" on the past five years, Xi also focused on two of China's most sensitive security and sovereignty issues in relation to Hong Kong, after democracy protests were crushed there, and on the self-ruled island of Taiwan.

He lauded Hong Kong's transition from "chaos to governance", while his vow to "never commit to abandoning the use of force" on the self-ruled island of Taiwan drew rapturous applause.

Xi celebrated the party's continued efforts to eradicate Covid -- which are placing heavy curbs on people's lives and are hammering the nation's economy -- as a major achievement.