Beijing Sticks to Xi’s Covid-19 Stance While Endorsing Premier as Economic Fixer

As China tries to bounce back from costly Covid-19 lockdowns, a two-track approach is emerging in Beijing: sticking to President Xi Jinping’s stance on strictly controlling Covid-19 while giving his No. 2, Premier Li Keqiang, the task of fixing the economy. However, Mr. Xi’s zero-tolerance approach to Covid-19 is complicating Mr. Li’s economic-revival mission. Traditionally in China, the premier is in charge of the economy, though that division of power had been subverted for much of the past decade, during which Mr. Xi alone has dominated decision-making. Mr. Li has recently gained a greater economic role by tapping into worries within the ranks of the ruling Communist Party over faltering growth and rising unemployment, people close to decision-making say.