A Japanese expert on the Chinese Communist Party says all officials who are politically distant from President Xi Jinping have been removed from the party's new leadership.

The Communist Party unveiled seven members of its top leadership on Sunday.

Aichi Prefectural University Associate Professor Suzuki Takashi said he had the impression that Xi's new team has "only one boss and the rest are subordinates."

He noted that the top decision-making body is dominated by officials who worked under Xi in the past as loyal and competent subordinates.

Suzuki pointed out Xi has turned his party into a political force close to a personal dictatorship.

He said Xi will tighten his grip on power and exercise strong leadership to confront the international community as well as his country's political challenges.

Suzuki referred to Shanghai's top Communist Party official, Li Qiang, who was named as the party's second highest official.

Li served as secretary-general in Zhejiang when Xi worked as party chief of the province between 2002 and 2007. Li was appointed party secretary of Shanghai in 2017.

Suzuki said there was speculation that Li would not be included, as his "zero-COVID" policy drew dissatisfaction from people in Shanghai. But he believes Xi strongly recommended Li.

Suzuki also mentioned a possible successor to President Xi.

He said Li Qiang and Ding Xuexiang are slightly ahead of the other members considering their ages, but he said nothing has yet to be confirmed.

Suzuki noted that Xi and former President Hu Jintao both served as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission before becoming the party's top leader. He said neither Li nor Ding has been appointed to the post.

Suzuki added that Xi is probably planning to grow new leaders while assessing candidates over the next five or ten years, before passing the baton.