China unveils its new leaders headed by Xi Jinping
Purchase this article for republication
Buy SPH photos
BEIJING - China has completed its carefully managed power transfer on Thursday morning and unveiled a new pinnacle leadership for the next decade under the helm of Communist Party chief Xi Jinping, 59, and incoming premier Li Keqiang, 57.
The duo headed a group of seven newly installed Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) members who walked out from behind a screen at a media conference - in hierarchical order reflecting their ranks - at the Great Hall of the People.
The others were Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang, 66; Shanghai party boss Yu Zhengsheng, 67; Propaganda Department head Liu Yunshan, 65; Vice-Premier Wang Qishan, 64; and Tianjin chief Zhang Gaoli, 66.
The leaders' catwalk ended months of intense suspense over the eventual size and make-up of the PSC and years of intense wrangling and bargaining between top leaders to grab coveted seats for themselves or their protégés.
The new leadership has Mr Li Keqiang as the only outright ally of outgoing party chief Hu Jintao against four men viewed as members of the Shanghai clique headed by former president Jiang Zemin.
