"Xi, speaking at Xi'an Jiaotong University, emphasized that significant historical progress often follows major disasters. He believes that our nation has been strengthened and matured through difficult times. Xi, who has faced personal challenges in the past, sees the pandemic as an opportunity to redeem the party after initial mistakes and to boost national pride. State propaganda is supporting him by highlighting his leadership in the fight against the pandemic. Now, Xi must translate his calls for unity into action, a theme likely to be central at the upcoming National People's Congress. He is working to resume the pre-pandemic agenda, such as his goal to eliminate extreme poverty by this year, while warning against complacency that could lead to a second wave of infections." He must juggle all these responsibilities at a time when the country is facing challenging diplomatic and economic conditions not seen since the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989. Carl Minzner, a professor at Fordham University, warned that if Xi fails to lead appropriately as the country's helmsman, there is significant domestic political risk. Despite criticisms of his handling of the coronavirus outbreak, Xi has portrayed himself as the essential leader defending China against formidable threats, garnering support from party members 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 for the Chinese leadership. Xi's first public appearance during the crisis came just two days after he ordered the lockdown of Wuhan, where the outbreak originated. He led an uncommon televised meeting of the Politburo Standing Committee, the country's highest political body, during which he discussed the growing number of infections and deaths. According to a detailed report in People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, he expressed his struggle to sleep the night before the Lunar New Year holiday. Xi also appeared to step back from his usual prominent role, allowing others to take center stage. Premier Li Keqiang, one of China's leaders, was initially responsible for the government's emergency response to the crisis. This may have been a strategic move to shield himself from blame if the situation worsened. As the outbreak came under control, the party's focus shifted back to Xi Jinping, with Li being pushed into the background. Although Li will be delivering the keynote report to the National People's Congress, it is expected that Xi will continue to receive most of the media attention and will likely provide guidance to provincial leaders and delegates. Despite initial failures in the country's response to the disease and international criticism, Xi does not appear to have been humbled. He stated at the World Health Assembly that China has consistently acted with openness, transparency, and responsibility. Xi has cautioned that China is dealing with a world that is becoming more uncertain. He has balanced his optimistic outlook with concerns about potential economic downturns, foreign conflicts, or political instability. Recently, he has emphasized the need to be prepared for prolonged changes in the global environment, particularly in light of the recent economic downturn in China. The Communist Party's legitimacy has been bolstered by the increasing prosperity of millions of Chinese people. During recent visits to three provinces, Xi Jinping has shifted the focus back to the policy agenda that existed before the coronavirus pandemic. Xi has visited Zhejiang, Shanxi, and Shaanxi, wearing his signature dark blue windbreaker and a mask indoors. He has toured factories, ports, government offices, and scenic spots in an effort to revive normal life while implementing new measures to prevent infection. In less affluent rural areas, he has shown interest in crops like wood ear fungus and chrysanthemum, which are important for his anti-poverty initiatives. He informed a group of villagers in Shaanxi that their wood ear fungus was well-known and could help lift them out of poverty. The Communist Party's carefully crafted propaganda may show China's success in overcoming the epidemic, but it also highlights that life is still far from normal. Footage from his visit to Xi'an Jiaotong University revealed that the enthusiastic crowd of students and professors had been arranged, as the university was mostly closed. Xi jokingly pointed out that school had not yet resumed, despite the crowd's presence.