Xi Jinping elected as China’s President

Xi Jinping was today elected as China’s new President and head of the military succeeding Hu Jintao, completing a generational transition of power in the world’s most populous country.

China’s Parliament formally elected Xi, 59, as President, four months after he took charge of the Communist Party.

Besides being the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC ) Xi has been appointed as the Chairman of the Powerful Military Commission, when he was elected as the new leader of the party in November last.

According to an official announcement, Xi was elected as President by 3,000-strong National People’s Congress, which also endorsed his appointment as the Chairman of the Military Commission,according to the Hindu.

The Military Commission supervises 2.3 million-strong and the world’s largest standing army called People’s Liberation Army, incorporating Army, Navy and Air Force.

His election a formality as the NPC, dominated by the CPC functionaries completed the once-in-a-decade power transfer from the administration headed by Hu, 70, who along with team of leaders including Premier Wen Jiabao formally retires.

With today’s election, Xi has emerged as the most powerful leader in China as heads the country, CPC and the Military.

Also, the NPC today elected Li Yuanchao, a reformist and Politburo member of the CPC, as Vice-President. Yi was reportedly picked by Xi ignoring pressures within the factions to energize the economic reform process to revitalize slowing economy.

Widely regarded as smooth transfer of power, Xi along with seven-member Standing Committee of the CPC which virtually rules the country, completed over 100 days in the leadership running various public campaigns against corruption, austerity both in the government and military and revamping the administration by cutting down the size of cabinet.

R.S