China Unveils Its Future Leadership

China was introduced today to the two new recruits to the Communist party leadership anointed as the likely leaders of the world's most populous nation from 2012.

Xi Jinping, a "princeling" from an elite family, and Li Keqiang, the son of a low-ranked rural official, were propelled into the highest echelons of the Communist party after protracted backroom dealing that will shape policy and personnel for a generation.

The duo joins the politburo standing committee, the most powerful body in China, in a reshuffle aimed at consolidating the authority of the party leader and state president, Hu Jintao.

At the 17th party congress, which ended at the weekend, Mr Hu secured his second five-year term as leader and had his concept of "scientific development" written into the party charter.

The president has had difficulty implementing his policies of environmental protection, redistribution of wealth and clean government because power is diffused among provinces and factions.

The reshuffle only partially strengthens his hand. Out went his biggest rival, Vice-President Zeng Qinghong and two other senior cadres who were close to Mr Hu's predecessor, Jiang Zemin. But the factional bloodlines of both newcomers suggest Mr Hu will still have to make compromises.

Of the four new appointees, only one - Mr Li - is a pure Hu protege. Like the president, Mr Li worked his way to the top by running some of China's poorest provinces, and exploiting his connections in the Communist Youth League.

Mr Li had been tipped as Mr Hu's most likely successor in 2012, but a rival whose different background underscores the divisions inside this fast-changing society has since eclipsed him.

Mr Xi is the son of a party elder, the husband of a famous singer and - until today - the party boss of the commercial capital, Shanghai.

An engineering and law graduate of Tsinghua University, he has a reputation as a talented troubleshooter with close connections to business and foreign investors. He is seen as a compromise candidate because he is close to both Mr Hu and Mr Jiang.

At the public unveiling at the Great Hall of the People, Mr Xi was introduced ahead of Mr Li, suggesting he will be the next president, with the latter the next prime minister.

But some analysts have suggested both men are so closely matched that there could be a genuine leadership contest at the next congress.

Both are in their 50s, well below the all-male standing committee's average age of 62.

Underlining that both men are chosen ones, Mr Hu went out of his way to give a special introduction. "Xi Jinping, 54, and Li Keqiang, 52, are two comrades who are relatively younger," he said.

The two other new members - Zhou Yongkang, who takes the helm of the public security ministry, and He Guoqiang, who is in charge of party discipline - are seen as closer to Jiang-Zeng camp.

The continued influence of the former president was further underlined when two scandal-tainted cadres close to Mr Jiang retained their posts.

Jia Qinglin, who was implicated in a bribery and corruption case, stays on at No 5 in the hierarchy. Li Changchun, who was party chief of Henan province during the outbreak and attempted cover-up of the HIV-contaminated blood scandal, retains his grip on the powerful propaganda department.