During a recent visit to Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi stated that significant historical progress often occurs following major disasters. He highlighted how the nation has been strengthened and developed through challenging times. Xi, who has faced adversity in his youth, views the pandemic as an opportunity to showcase the party's ability to rectify early mistakes and unite the country in the face of international criticism. State propaganda is actively supporting Xi's leadership in combating the pandemic. As the National People's Congress approaches, Xi aims to translate his calls for solidarity into concrete actions, emphasizing the need to resume pre-pandemic initiatives such as eradicating extreme poverty by the end of the year while warning against complacency that could lead to a resurgence of infections. He must handle all of these tasks at a time when the country is dealing with diplomatic and economic challenges as difficult as any since the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989. Carl Minzner, a professor at Fordham University, warned that there is political risk for Xi if he does not handle his responsibilities properly. Despite criticisms of his handling of the outbreak, Xi has positioned himself as the essential leader defending China against major threats, which has garnered support from the party cadre and the public. Jude Blanchette, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that if time had stopped on February 1st, it would have been detrimental to the Chinese leadership. Xi made his first public appearance in the crisis just two days after ordering Wuhan to be locked down in late January. He led an uncommon televised meeting of the highest political body in the country, the Politburo Standing Committee, during a time when thousands were infected and many had died. As reported in People's Daily, the main newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, he solemnly shared that he had trouble sleeping the night before the Lunar New Year holiday. Xi also appeared to step back momentarily from his usual dominant position, allowing others to have a voice. He held the top position in the country. Premier Li Keqiang was initially responsible for the government's emergency response during the crisis, potentially positioning himself to take blame if the situation worsened. However, as China gained control over the outbreak, the party's propaganda shifted back towards Xi, with Li being pushed into the background. While Li will be delivering the keynote report to the National People's Congress on Friday, it is Xi who will be dominating the media coverage and providing guidance to provincial leaders and delegates. Despite criticism, Xi has not shown any signs of being humbled by the initial failures in the fight against the disease. He maintains that China has acted with transparency and responsibility throughout the crisis. Xi has cautioned about the growing uncertainty faced by China in the world. Despite his optimistic outlook for the future, he has also expressed concerns about potential economic collapse, international crises, and political deterioration. In a recent statement to the Politburo Standing Committee, Xi emphasized the need to be prepared for significant changes in external conditions, particularly in response to the recent global epidemic and economic developments. The biggest challenge currently facing China is its economy, which has experienced its first contraction in over forty years of transformation. The increasing wealth of millions of Chinese people has long been a key factor in the Communist Party's credibility. During recent visits to three provinces, Xi has focused on returning to the policy agenda that existed before the coronavirus pandemic. Xi has visited Zhejiang, Shanxi, and Shaanxi, wearing his usual dark blue windbreaker and a mask when indoors. He has toured factories, ports, government offices, and tourist spots in an effort to resume normal life while implementing new precautions against infection. In rural villages, he has shown interest in crops like wood ear fungus and chrysanthemums, which are important for his efforts to reduce poverty. He told a group of villagers in Shaanxi that their wood ear fungus was well-known and could help lift them out of poverty. However, despite the Communist Party's efforts to show China overcoming the epidemic, footage from Xi'an Jiaotong University revealed that things were still far from normal. The cheering crowd of students and professors was actually arranged, as the university was mostly closed. Xi joked about the situation, pointing out that school had not yet resumed.