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BEIJING, China -- Hu Jintao has been elected president of China by the National People's Congress, completing the country's transition to a younger generation of leadership.
Hu's election on Saturday as president of a fast-changing China was immediately followed by the election to the country's top military post of outgoing president, Jiang Zemin.
Jiang, 76, steps down after serving the maximum of two five-year terms.
While Hu assumes leadership of the country, it is Jiang, president since 1993, who will still wield considerable power as he holds sway over military and foreign affairs matters.
Hu, 60, who was vice president, claimed the top post four months after ascending to the pinnacle of China's ruling Communist Party.
Delegates voted 2,937-4 to elevate Hu -- a vote largely considered to be a party rubber stamp. There were three abstentions. (Hu profile)
Hu and Jiang shook hands as the outgoing leader grinned. The two exchanged a quiet comment as delegates applauded, The Associated Press reported.
The National People's Congress re-elected Jiang as chairman of the Central Military Commission overwhelmingly with 2,726 votes in favour, 98 against and 122 abstentions, reported Reuters news agency.
Legislators also elected Wu Bangguo, 61, Hu's top deputy in the Communist Party hierarchy, as chairman of the People's Congress, replacing Premier Li Peng.
A protégé of Jiang, Zeng Qinghong, was elected vice president, a post formerly held by Hu. But in a sign of some limited dissent, more than 360 delegates either voted against Zeng or abstained.
Zeng, born in 1939, was elevated to the upper echelons of Communist Party power last year. He has been Jiang's closest aide for more than a decade -- dating to Jiang's days as mayor and party boss in Shanghai. (China's top nine)
Despite surrending the nation's top post, Jiang stayed on as head of China's military. He was reappointed in November to head the Central Military Commission of the ruling Communist Party.
The party has not given any indication yet when he might step down.
On Saturday he kept another post atop the government's largely powerless equivalent military commission.
The result of the balloting is widely believed to have already been dictated from the top levels of the Communist Party, the true seat of power in China.
"I'm excited to be able to vote. I feel a great responsibility," said Liu Jude, a military delegate to the legislature.
The National People's Congress is expected to name Vice Premier Wen Jiabao to succeed retiring Premier Zhu Rongji in the country's top economic post.
Hu's election on Saturday as president of a fast-changing China was immediately followed by the election to the country's top military post of outgoing president, Jiang Zemin.
Jiang, 76, steps down after serving the maximum of two five-year terms.
While Hu assumes leadership of the country, it is Jiang, president since 1993, who will still wield considerable power as he holds sway over military and foreign affairs matters.
Hu, 60, who was vice president, claimed the top post four months after ascending to the pinnacle of China's ruling Communist Party.
Delegates voted 2,937-4 to elevate Hu -- a vote largely considered to be a party rubber stamp. There were three abstentions. (Hu profile)
Hu and Jiang shook hands as the outgoing leader grinned. The two exchanged a quiet comment as delegates applauded, The Associated Press reported.
The National People's Congress re-elected Jiang as chairman of the Central Military Commission overwhelmingly with 2,726 votes in favour, 98 against and 122 abstentions, reported Reuters news agency.
Legislators also elected Wu Bangguo, 61, Hu's top deputy in the Communist Party hierarchy, as chairman of the People's Congress, replacing Premier Li Peng.
A protégé of Jiang, Zeng Qinghong, was elected vice president, a post formerly held by Hu. But in a sign of some limited dissent, more than 360 delegates either voted against Zeng or abstained.
Zeng, born in 1939, was elevated to the upper echelons of Communist Party power last year. He has been Jiang's closest aide for more than a decade -- dating to Jiang's days as mayor and party boss in Shanghai. (China's top nine)
Despite surrending the nation's top post, Jiang stayed on as head of China's military. He was reappointed in November to head the Central Military Commission of the ruling Communist Party.
The party has not given any indication yet when he might step down.
On Saturday he kept another post atop the government's largely powerless equivalent military commission.
The result of the balloting is widely believed to have already been dictated from the top levels of the Communist Party, the true seat of power in China.
"I'm excited to be able to vote. I feel a great responsibility," said Liu Jude, a military delegate to the legislature.
The National People's Congress is expected to name Vice Premier Wen Jiabao to succeed retiring Premier Zhu Rongji in the country's top economic post.
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