Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday hailed his Communist Party's zero Covid policies and rise as a global power and demanded unity around his leadership on Sunday, launching a Communist Party Congress that is set to rubber stamp his bid to rule for a historic third term.

Xi walked onstage to thunderous applause from the roughly 2,300 hand-picked attendees who had gathered at Beijing's Great Hall of the People for the event.

"The historical wheels of national reunification and national rejuvenation are rolling forward, reunification of the motherland must be achieved and will be achieved," said Xi.