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China names Xi Jinping as new president
  • | AFP | March 14, 2013 02:58 PM
China's parliament named Xi Jinping as president Thursday, four months after he took charge of the Communist Party with pledges of reform that have raised hopes but so far yielded little change.

Newly-elected Chinese President Xi Jinping holds hands with former president Hu Jintao at the National People's Congress (NPC) in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 14, 2013 

Top officials of the world's most populous nation, including Xi himself, took part in a leadership vote at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

"Now I announce comrade Xi Jinping is selected as president of the People's Republic of China," said Liu Yunshan, a top official of the ruling party who chaired the session at the National People's Congress.

To loud applause, Xi, 59, stood up and bowed to the delegates and the platform, before shaking hands with other officials and walking off the stage.

Li Yuanchao, a member of the Communist Party's Politburo, was named as vice-president.

Xi's government appointment was effectively guaranteed by his party position.

He formally takes the reins of the world's second-largest economy with Li Keqiang, who is due to be anointed as premier on Friday, marking the final step in the nation's once-in-a-decade power handover.

Since he took the top Communist post in November, Xi has pledged to preserve the ruling party's supremacy, as well as improve livelihoods, implement economic reforms, and crack down on corruption, which incenses popular opinion.

However, despite the promises on hot issues such as graft and environmental protection which could prove a threat to party rule, observers say that concrete reforms would be complex and will not be swiftly introduced.

Officially, Xi is being elected for a five-year term.

Xi has already become head of China's top military body, the Central Military Commission.

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