Party Members |
CHINA CONFIRMS LEADERSHIP CHANGE
Xi
Jinping has been confirmed as the man to lead China for the next decade.Mr Xi led the new
Politburo Standing Committee onto the stage at the Great Hall of the People in
Beijing, signalling his elevation to the top of China's ruling Communist Party.The
party faced great challenges but would work to meet "expectations of both
history and the people", he said.Most of the new committee are seen as
politically conservative, and perceived reformers did not get promotion.Xi
Jinping replaces Hu Jintao, under whose administration China has seen a decade
of extraordinary growth.
Mr
Xi was followed out onto the stage by Li Keqiang, the man set to succeed
Premier Wen Jiabao, and five other men - meaning that the size of the
all-powerful Standing Committee had been reduced from nine to seven.Those five,
in order of seniority, were Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang, Shanghai party boss Yu
Zhengsheng, propaganda chief Liu Yunshan, Vice-Premier Wang Qishan and Tianjin
party boss Zhang Gaoli.The new leaders had great responsibilities, Mr Xi said,
but their mission was to be united, and to lead the party and the people to
make the Chinese nation stronger and more powerful."The people's desire
for a better life is what we shall fight for," he said.Corruption had to
be addressed, he said, and better party discipline was needed."The
party faces many severe challenges, and there are also many pressing problems
within the party that need to be resolved, particularly corruption, being
divorced from the people, going through formalities and bureaucratism caused by
some party officials," Mr Xi said."We must make every effort to solve
these problems. The whole party must stay on full alert."The new Standing
Committee was endorsed in a vote early on Thursday by the new party Central
Committee, but in reality the decisions had been made in advance.
The
new leaders will gradually take over in the next few months, with Hu Jintao's
presidency formally coming to an end at the annual parliament session in March
2013.Mr Xi has also been named chairman of the Central Military Commission, a
Xinhua news agency report said, ending uncertainty over whether that post would
be transferred from Hu Jintao immediately.Mr Hu's predecessor, Jiang Zemin,
held on to the post for two years after he stood down from the party
leadership.New Standing Committee member Wang Qishan has also been named head
of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection - the party's
anti-corruption watchdog. Mr Xi, a former Shanghai party chief, was appointed
to the politburo in 2007.
A
"princeling" - a relative of one of China's revolutionary elders - he
has spent almost four decades in the Communist Party, serving in top posts in
both Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, as well as Shanghai.His speech drew praise
online, with a number of netizens liking his more informal style."This big
boss at least is talking like a human being. I won't comment on the rest,"
well-known Chinese journalist Gong Xiaoyue said via micro-blog.Mr Xi, 59, is
said to be a protégé of Jiang Zemin, while Li Keqiang is said to have been Mr
Hu's preferred successor.Mr Hu has been the Communist Party chief since he led
the Standing Committee line-up out on stage in November 2002.
Under
his administration China has seen a decade of rapid development, overtaking
Japan as the world's second-largest economy.But the development has been
uneven, leading to a widening wealth gap, environmental challenges and rumbling
social discontent over inequality and corruption.Analysts say there has been
division at the very top of the leadership in the lead-up to the party
congress, with two rival factions jostling for position and influence.
The
transition process has also been complicated by the scandal that engulfed
Chongqing party leader Bo Xilai - a powerful high-flier once seen as a strong
contender for the top leadership. His wife has been jailed for murdering a
British businessman and he looks set to face trial on a raft of
corruption-related charges.That notwithstanding, the power transition process
has been orderly, for only the second time in 60 years of Communist Party rule."The
ostensible lack of drama throughout the week-long session may disappoint
sensation seekers," China Daily said in an editorial on Thursday before
the new Standing Committee line-up was announced."But the confidence in
continuity, instead of revolutionary ideas and dramatic approaches, means a
better tomorrow is attainable."
Prof. John Kurakar
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