Beijing: Heralding a new era of leadership, Vice-President Hu Jintao was on March 15 elected unopposed as the President of the China, while his predecessor Jiang Zemin was re-elected as the commander-in-chief of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Hu, 60, an engineer-turned-politician, succeeds Zemin, 76, who held the post for two consecutive five-year terms as President of the world's most populous nation.

Hu, who is also the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), was 'elected' by the newly elected 2,951 members of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's Parliament at the great hall of the people.

The outgoing President Jiang Zemin retained considerable power, as he was re-elected as commander-in-chief of the 2.4 million-strong PLA.

The plenary session also elected Zeng Qinghong as the Vice-President of People's Republic of China and Wu Bangguo as the chairman of the 2,900-member-strong Parliament.

All the four top leaders were 'elected' unopposed and the outcome was predicted by China watchers well in advance.

Following Hu's appointment, Jiang shook hands with Hu, who was selected as Jiang's successor, by late paramount leader, Deng Xiaoping.

As Vice-President, Hu spent the past decade handling difficult tasks meant to test him and prepare him for leadership. Most recently, he held top party management posts handling promotions and reorganising provincial leadership.

Analysts say Hu's first big test came after the US bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade in 1999 by "mistake". Hu made his first major speech on Chinese television during the crisis that followed and urged agitated countrymen to remain calm.

In 2001, Hu, along with Jiang, handled a tense diplomatic standoff with the United States after an American military surveillance plane made a forced landing on Hainan island after a mid-air collision with a tailing Chinese fighter jet.

Despite his new powers and post as President, analysts say Hu will have to share power with the nine-member politburo standing committee that Jiang had loaded with his own hard-core supporters, before stepping down last November.

The outgoing Chinese President also got re-elected as the chairman of the CMC, which would ensure that he would have a say in important matters in Chinese politics, as well as on foreign policy and security matters.

Chinese military plays an important role in the political affairs and the NPC has a large contingent of deputies from the three services.

Jiang also ensured that his closest aide, Zeng Was made Vice-President of China.

PTI