Chinese state media signalled on Thursday that President Xi Jinping could join the league of Mao Zedong and the Deng Xiaoping — the country’s tallest leaders — for making major theoretical contributions for the advancement of socialism.

Xinhua reported that Mr. Xi’s ‘Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era’ has been codified, according to some members of the outgoing apex Standing Committee of the 25-member Politburo.

“The Thought is the biggest highlight of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and a historic contribution to the Party’s development,” said Zhang Dejiang, member of the Politburo, on Wednesday.

Inclusion in Constitution

Mr. Xi’s ‘Thought’ could be included in the Constitution. During a media conference on Tuesday at the Great Hall of the People, the spokesman for the Congress, Tuo Zhen, said: “The CPC will amend its Constitution at the upcoming National Congress to represent new governance concepts, thoughts and strategies proposed by the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core.”

Two other members of the Politburo’s Standing Committee — Yu Zhengsheng and Liu Yunshan — also praised Mr. Xi for adapting Marxism to the Chinese context attuned to building “socialism with Chinese characteristics”.

Mr. Xi’s theory builds on and further enriches Marxism-Leninism, the Mao Zedong Thought, the Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development, according to a report delivered at the opening of the Congress, Xinhua reported.

”As China enters a new era, the CPC must write a new chapter of 21st century Marxism...” Xinhua quoted Chen Shuguang, a professor with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, as saying.

Mr. Xi’s predecessors, Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin, have not been given personal credit for their ideological contributions.