BEIJING — Chinese leader Xi Jinping gained an unprecedented third term as president of the country on Friday.

Xi rose through China’s political ranks, becoming president in 2013 and abolishing term limits in 2018.

At the Chinese Communist Party’s 20th National Congress in October, Xi consolidated his control of the ruling party by filling the highest circle of leadership with loyalists.

After such party congresses, top leaders of the Chinese Communist Party then go on to fill government positions such as president and premier.

Delegates on Friday approved a proposal to restructure the State Council, the Chinese government’s top executive body.

A draft of the plan was released earlier this week, and comes as the ruling Communist Party of China is expected to significantly increase its direct control of the government.