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China unveils new leadership

November 15, 2012

Vice President Xi Jinping has succeeded President Hu Jintao as head of the ruling Communist Party. The new leader will steer the world's No. 2 economy for the next decade.

https://p.dw.com/p/16jTB
China's new Politburo Standing Committee members (from L to R) Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang and Zhang Dejiang wave as they arrive to meet with the press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, November 15, 2012. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
Image: Reuters

According to tradition, the committee appeared before the media inside Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Thursday in order of seniority.

Xi Jinping, long expected to succeed Hu, was the first to appear on stage followed by members of the new Politburo Standing Committee, the nation's top decision-making body.

Standing in front of his colleagues, Xi said the new leadership faced "enormous responsibility" but would fight for a "better life" for China's 1.3 billion people.

In second place in the new elite lineup, which was slimmed from nine members to seven, was current Vice Premier Li Keqiang.

The other new members, all new additions, include Wang Qishan, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Zhang Gaoli and Liu Yunshan.

Xi will take over Hu's state position in March at the annual meeting of parliament.

The party closed its 18th congress in Beijing on Wednesday after electing a new central committee. The weeklong congress brought together some 2,200 delegates from across China.

hc/lw (AFP, Reuters)

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Newly-elected General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xi Jinping (L) speaks as he meets with the press with other new Politburo Standing Committee members (from 2nd L to R) Zhang Gaoli, Liu Yunshan, Zhang Dejiang, Li Keqiang, Yu Zhengsheng and Wang Qishan at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, November 15, 2012. China's ruling Communist Party unveiled its new leadership line-up on Thursday to steer the world's second-largest economy for the next five years, with Vice President Xi Jinping taking over from outgoing President Hu Jintao as party chief. REUTERS/Carlos Barria (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS)

China flexes muscles at home and abroad

China flexes muscles at home and abroad

China's new leadership has to walk a fine line between keeping a balance at home and throwing its weight around abroad. The rest of the world will be watching closely, writes Wenfang Tang for DW's Transatlantic Voices. (15.11.2012)
November 15, 2012