China unveils new leaders with Xi Jinping at helm

BEIJING: China unveiled its new leaders Thursday, with Vice President Xi Jinping marching on stage at the head of a revamped line-up that will steer the world's number two economy for the next decade.
Xi succeeds President Hu Jintao as head of the ruling Communist Party, assuming power at an uncertain time with urgent calls for action on corruption and an overhaul of China's economic model as growth stutters.
His long-expected ascension to the apex of national politics was confirmed when he emerged onto the stage at the Great Hall of the People ahead of the six other members of the elite Politburo Standing Committee.
Standing in front of his colleagues, Xi said the new leadership faced "enormous responsibility" but would fight for a "better life" for all China's 1.3 billion people.
Xi, a 59-year-old who as the son of a revolutionary hero has an impeccable political pedigree, will formally replace Hu as president when the rubber-stamp legislature confirms the appointment in March.
But Xi's unqualified standing atop China's power structure was emphasised on Thursday with Hu also handing him control of the Central Military Commission.
Hu's predecessor Jiang Zemin had clung on to that job, which steers the world's largest military, for two years after relinquishing the national presidency.
In second place in the new elite line-up -- which was slimmed from nine members to seven -- was current Vice Premier Li Keqiang, whose promotion sets him up to be appointed the country's premier next year.
The leadership team, all new additions except for Xi and Li, walked onto the stage at the cavernous hall, waving and smiling.
The spectacle marked the culmination of years of jockeying within the secretive party which has a monopoly on political power in China.