Thousands of delegates are gathered in Beijing as China's governing Communist Party starts it's elective Congress today, set to usher in a historic third term in power for Xi Jinping. Xi has been described as  the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong in the 1970s. The decision to extend Xi's presidency comes after a two-term limit was abolished in 2018.  If elected Xi will lead the world's second-largest economy and one of its biggest military forces. Some analysts say he is likely to push China towards more economic growth and a more authoritarian political stance in a third five-year term. To discuss this we are joined on the line from Ethiopia by Prof. David Monyai, Director of the Centre for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg..