14 Mar 2013

Xi Jinping confirmed as China's president

5:15 pm on 14 March 2013

Leaders in Beijing have confirmed Xi Jinping as president, completing China's 10-yearly transition of power.

Mr Xi, appointed to the Communist Party's top post in November, replaces Hu Jintao, who is stepping down.

Some 3,000 deputies to the National People's Congress, the annual parliament session, took part in the vote at the Great Hall of the People.

The new premier - widely expected to be Li Keqiang - is scheduled to be named on Friday, replacing Wen Jiabao.

While votes are held for the posts, they are largely ceremonial and the results very rarely a surprise.

Mr Xi was named secretary-general of the Communist Party in November last year and was also given the leadership of the top military body, the Central Military Commission.

This vote, handing him the role of head of state, was the final stage in the transition of power to him and his team, the slimmed-down, seven-member Standing Committee.