Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, casts his ballot to elect deputies to the Xicheng district people's congress at the Huairentang polling station of the Zhongnanhai electoral district in Xicheng District of Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping cast his ballot at a polling station in Beijing on Friday to elect deputies to a local people's congress.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, voted at the Huairentang polling station of the Zhongnanhai electoral district in Xicheng District to elect deputies to the Xicheng district people's congress.

Xi stressed efforts to practice whole-process people's democracy, uphold Party leadership, and strengthen oversight throughout the election process to ensure that deputies who meet the people's expectations are elected.

Around 3:30 p.m. Friday, Xi arrived at the polling station, gave his voter registration card to staff for verification, and got a ballot. He cast his ballot after filling it.

Noting that the election of deputies to people's congresses is an important foundation for upholding, improving and practicing the people's congress system, Xi underlined the need to give full play to democracy, strictly act in accordance with the law, and ensure that the election is carried out fairly and cleanly.

On Friday afternoon, other senior Chinese leaders Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi cast their ballots in person, while Han Zheng entrusted a staff member to vote on his behalf.

Former Chinese leader Hu Jintao also entrusted a staff member to vote on his behalf.

Friday saw people vote at 13,054 polling stations across Beijing to elect 4,898 new deputies to the people's congresses at the district level and 11,137 deputies to the township-level people's congresses.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, casts his ballot to elect deputies to a local people's congress at the Ziguangge polling station of the Wenjin Street electoral district in Xicheng District of Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]

Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, casts his ballot to elect deputies to a local people's congress at the Great Hall of the People polling station of the Zhongnanhai electoral district in Xicheng District of Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, casts his ballot to elect deputies to a local people's congress at the Huairentang polling station of the Zhongnanhai electoral district in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]

Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat, casts his ballot to elect deputies to a local people's congress at the Huairentang polling station of the Zhongnanhai electoral district in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, casts his ballot to elect deputies to a local people's congress at the Ziguangge polling station of the Wenjin Street electoral district in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]

Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, casts his ballot to elect deputies to a local people's congress at the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision polling station of the Taijichang electoral district in Dongcheng District of Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]