Xi Jinping has cleared the way to rule for life and set China on a more authoritarian course after the country's rubber stamp parliament voted overwhelmingly to abolish presidential term limits on Sunday.

The move turns the clock back on decades of reform and reverses a system of ‘collective leadership’ that was installed following the turmoil of Mao Tse-tung’s one-man rule.

Almost 3,000 delegates of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) backed the measure during a historic meeting inside Beijing's cavernous Great Hall of the People.

The Chinese president was among the first to vote, placing his orange ballot paper in a red box bearing the official seal of state at the centre of the stage at the front of the huge hall.

The deputies then left their seats to cast anonymous votes as jaunty music played during a ritual which lasted ten minutes.

The room erupted into loud applause when the result of the vote was passed with 2,958 in support. Two voted against, while three abstained and one ballot paper was spoiled, signifying almost total loyalty to Mr Xi’s vision for strongman rule.

Mr Xi showed little emotion throughout.