China: Xi Jinping is the new leader who will rule from March 2013

November 15, 2012

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The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) today appointed Xi Jinping as general secretary of the formation and “number one” in the new list of seven members of the Standing Committee, the highest governing body.

The decision means that Xi, 59, will assume the presidency of China in March 2013 succeeding Hu Jintao, who is leaving his post today to the Standing Committee and also secretary general of the party, the first step in the transition from “fourth generation” of communist leaders at the fifth.

The other new members of the Standing Committee and therefore are most responsible CPC Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhensheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli.

Xi’s appointment as the new head of the party was expected for months, and today also met his capacity as chairman of the Central Military Commission, the governing body of the armed forces of the Asian giant.

Xi and the other six members of the Standing Committee were presented today at the local and international press at 12:00 local time (04:00 GMT) at the Great Hall of the People, where it is celebrated the XVIII Congress of the Communist Party from 8 to 14 November.