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Subscribe to RSSChina's ruling Communist Party has selected Xi Jinping as the country's new leader. Xi faces a faltering economy, environmental issues, demands for political reforms, as well as rampant corruption and public cynicism. NBC's Ian Williams reports.
BEIJING – China’s ruling Communist Party on Thursday selected a new seven-person leadership group fronted by Xi Jinping that will lead the world’s second largest economy for at least the next five years.
Xi, the newly selected party secretary, and his deputy, Li Keqiang -- the new members of the all-important Politburo Standing Committee -- take over a nation whose economy has quadrupled under the leadership of outgoing leader, Hu Jintao, but now faces serious environmental, political and social questions in the near future.
For Xi though, this Standing Committee appears better poised to bring about much-needed reforms than that of his predecessor, Hu.
China’s Communist Party of today governs by consensus. Long gone are the days of “Strong Man” politics where one man – a Mao Zedong or Deng Xiaoping – dictates policy for the country.
This political evolution helped produce the stability that has ushered in unprecedented economic growth.
Remarkably this week saw only the second peaceful leadership transition since the communists took power in 1949.
David Gray / Reuters
A customer stands with restaurant workers underneath a painting of Chinese characters that read "Long-lasting Prosperity", as they watch television showing the new leadership of China's ruling Communist Party.
The new leadership committee announced Thursday represents a rare balance of differing political agendas and alliances.
Men like Li Keqiang – probably the party’s best educated leader – and Wang Qishan – a strong voice for the opening up of China’s economy – are likely to be liberal voices for reform.
Communist Party's Congress grinds on amid widespread indifference in China
Where is China's Vice President? That's the question that can't be answered in Beijing. Even searching for the name of China's Vice President on Chinese social media has been blocked amid increasing rumors about his whereabouts. Xi Jinping has been missing from the public eye for more than week. ITV's Angus Walker reports.
Meanwhile Zhang Dejiang – the faithful party stalwart who took over for the deposed Bo Xilai – and Liu Yunshan – the long-time czar of the Communist Party’s Propaganda Department – represent strong conservative voices.
The other two members, Zhang Gaoli and Yu Zhengsheng, both come from postings in Tianjin and Shanghai respectively and have shown signs of being centrists on issues.
Ironically, it is the new Party Secretary and soon-to-be President, Xi Jinping, who is the greatest mystery – a veritable political cipher.
While the candidates are scrutinized and skewered by the media in the U.S., China's new leader Xi Jinping remains a man of mystery among his citizens. NBC's Ian Williams reports
Yawns and other expressions of boredom as China's Communist Party Congress begins
But that now seems to be the path to the top position in China: The less known about you politically, the greater the chance of promotion.
There have been some questions raised about the various appointments that came out Thursday.
Outgoing President Hu Jintao’s decision to give up his seat on the important Central Military Commission was either a magnanimous demonstration of statesmanship on the part of Hu -- who had to wait two years until his predecessor, Jiang Zemin, gave up the post -- or a resounding defeat as Hu's important political allies did not appear to have made the final seven of the standing committee.
Embassy ballots give Chinese a glimpse of democracy ahead of power transfer
Another intriguing development was the appointment of Wang Qishan to the Communist Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
Wang has garnered a reputation as an effective “fireman” on sensitive issues affecting the party and in recent years has served as a capable counterpart to U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
But, at a time when serious economic concerns regarding the stalling of market reforms and the rise again of centrally planned, state-owned enterprises in China have plagued Beijing, it is a curious move to shift Wang, the strongest voice for economic reform in the party.
His shift to the top disciplinary position in the party means Wang will be able to bring about positive economic development by attacking a larger issue plaguing both party and country: corruption.
As China’s economy continues to develop in size and sophistication, the need for better standards of practice economically and politically have slowly started to manifest itself.
There is some optimism now that with a reformer like Wang in place, there will eventually be the political will at the highest levels to bring about a serious reckoning on systemic corruption at both national and local levels across the country.
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Wow 44 comments on a subject involving about 1.6 billion people, billions of dollars in commerce and public debt, and political ideologies that on paper and in reality are utterly incompatible. I find the China question compelling. I'd bet John Huntsman would have something intelligent to say on the subject. Me, however, I am piqued by the hypocrisy of the business community. I see that others are as well. How many FOX News millionaires and billionaires profit from business dealings with the communist Chinese? I'd guess it would be ALL OF THEM. I can hear it now, "They have forced abortions there! I was not aware. Well, not here by God!"
The change of the communist elite powerbrokers is met with boredom and a kind of white-washed political correctness. I heard a Republican representative on C-SPAN today offer on the floor a measure to normalize US relations with democratic Russia and curb the toxic relationship the US has with communist China. A Republican whose political beliefs are not nestled in his undewear? Thank you, God. I thought we might frost relations with China by reminding them of how the US bombed the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade in 1999. The GOP could put Senator McCain in front of it and see who among the freshmen in the Politburo Standing Committee salutes. The 1999 bombing was a mistake. Being friendly with China is too. Look what it did to Mitt Romney. Warped his mind.
Ultimately, even the most oppressive government rules with the consent of the governed. If the Chinese people truly want to get rid of the present form of government in their country, they can do so. Most of the people, however,including the armed forces, must want it badly enough.
My congratulations to China on their peaceful selection of a new leader...and it didn't take a year of pandering to the Chinese people along with sever billion dollars to settle the issue.
It seem their system is just working fine for them.
If Israel has the right to defend his Terrorist activities by continuing the killing of Palestinians and auto attacking itself to make it look as if the Palestinians started the engagement of war, then, Israelis should die not only in Israel but around the world in the hands of any Armed Forces sympathizer whenever they are there to commit a military and espionage, and one of their so called Elite activities to infiltrate of kill another person they like to call enemies of Israel. Anyone who can see the truth of the cowardly actions of the European ZIONIST PIECES Of cockroach feces living in rat holes, can see the cowardly response of the United States OF America when it comes to the killing of a group and culture which had nothing to do with what happened to German Jews (which was actually projected by the ZIONIST helping Adolf Hitler to begin with). You are acting in Treason helping a State that committed a crime against the United States of America in New York<>Helping an ENEMY of the American people, that is called Treason. Someone make the Israeli arrests reports celebrating while 9/11 was going on, and those report conveniently vanish from the records like smoke in thin air,=. That is a coward act on behalf of the US Government. Israel is not helping the United States, is using American Taxes and Armed Forces to build up their NAZI Plans in the Middle East, and after they have no more need of the US, except for the trigger happy (as they have called the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ARMED FORCES<>Paid Mercenaries), they will care less if The US backs them up or not, since they will posses enough nuclear weapons to challenge anyone in the world. Then, only them the world will react and will find it necessary to attempt to annihilate Israel from the face of the Earth. This is not what a person with reason wants to say, but I'll say it anyway, Russia, China, North Korea, and any other Nation seeing itself threaten by those in International Power, and those in the Banking Industry, should join forces not only to protect themselves and their citizens, from what is going to come, but to eliminate any possible threat before hand, before even happens<>CHECK AND BALANCES<>ISN't called?