rediff.com: Hu Jintao is China's new Communist Party boss

Hu Jintao, a little-known figure in China's political hierarchy, took over on Friday as general secretary of the ruling Communist Party, replacing President Jiang Zemin.

Jiang, however, has been re-elected head of the party's powerful central military commission, indicating that he would be retaining considerable power despite his retirement.

Soon after his election at the first plenum of the 16th national congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the 59-year-old Hu, who has been the country's vice-president since March 1998, unveiled an expanded nine-member politburo standing committee, the country's supreme ruling council, marking the beginning of a new era in Chinese politics.

After taking over the party's reins, Hu, who is widely expected to succeed Jiang as president in March, pledged allegiance to his predecessor by promising to implement his action plan to modernise China by 2020.

"The new CPC central leadership will firmly carry out the development objectives outlined in Jiang Zemin's report to the 16th CPC national congress," he told reporters.

"These objectives reflect the will of the entire party and represent the aspiration of people of all ethnic groups in China," he said in his inaugural address.

Six allies of Jiang were named to the standing committee in a clear sign that the man who headed the party in the world's most populous nation for 13 years plans to pull the strings in retirement.

The changes --- the biggest leadership shuffle in a decade --- confirm longstanding speculation that a new generation of leaders would be ushered in.

Hu's election victory was a foregone conclusion as he was handpicked by the late 'paramount leader' Deng Xiaoping in 1992 to succeed Jiang.

Seen as a representative of the younger generation, Hu said Jiang's report, presented to the party on November 8, sums up the experience of the past 13 years and makes clear the objectives of the party and state in the first two decades of the new century.

"They are the political declaration and action plan for our party in the new development stage of the new century," Hu said, and pledged that the new leadership would unswervingly and persistently carry them out.

Apart from Hu, the new members of the politburo standing committee are Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Zeng Qinghong, Huang Ju, Wu Guanzheng, Li Changchun, and Luo Gan. Earlier it used to be a seven-member committee.

Jiang was re-elected chairman of the CPC's central military commission, a powerful post that controls the 2.5 million-strong People's Liberation Army.

Hu also praised the Chinese president for his 'Three Represents' theory, which the CPC has adopted as its long-term guiding ideology, on a par with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong thought, and Deng Xiaoping theory. "That's a historical policy decision and a historical contribution," Hu said.

He added that the CPC would show the rest of the world its sound image of "keeping pace with the times" and the "pioneering spirit".

"China would certainly have a more splendid future", he said. "China's further development would contribute more to world peace and development".

He also vowed that the new CPC leadership would live up to the trust of party members and the expectations of 1.3 billion Chinese people, and work hard for the country's 'socialist modernisation'.

"We will live up to the great trust of the entire party and the expectations of people across the country, hold high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping theory, fully implement the important thought of 'Three Represents', and earnestly fulfil various tasks put forth by the 16th party congress," Hu said.

"This is a united, triumphant and highly progressive meeting, as well as a meeting which has carried on the past and opened a new chapter for the future," he said.


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