A Xi Jinping protege rises to stardom

Chen Min'er, ally of Chinese leader, gains favour as potential loyal successor

The best career move by rising political star Chen Min’er may well have been his efforts 15 years ago to promote another phenom— Xi Jinping.

With Mr. Xi now starting a second five-year term as China’s top leader—and with the question looming of whether he will step down in 2022—Mr. Chen is poised to enter the upper ranks as a potential handpicked successor to his mentor.

“Chen Min’er has enjoyed a helicopter ride to the top,” said Willy Lam, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. “It’s a signal that he’s certainly one of the favourites of Xi Jinping.”

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