China’s ruling Communist Party will hold its five-yearly congress beginning on Oct. 16, with Xi Jinping poised to secure an historic third leadership term and cement his place as the country’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong.

The Politburo announced on Tuesday the start date for the congress, which typically lasts about a week and takes place mostly behind closed doors at the Great Hall of the People on the western side of Tiananmen Square in central Beijing.

Despite headwinds that have buffeted his path to a third term – from a moribund economy, the COVID-19 pandemic and rare public protests to rising frictions with the West and tensions over Taiwan – Xi is poised to secure a mandate to pursue his grand vision for the “rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” for years to come.

On Wednesday, the website of the party’s official People’s Daily posted an infographic highlighting Xi’s vision, including one of his signature pronouncements: “Party, government, military, people, education; east, south, west, north, central: the party leads everything.”