He also promised to 'place the interests of the state and the people above anything else, exercise power for the people, feel as the people feel and work for their happiness, and always be their faithful servants'.

Mr Hu also promised a pioneering spirit and a clean and honest administration.

To the applause of nearly 3,000 NPC deputies, the new president also said: 'I would never let down all the deputies and people of all nationalities throughout the country.'

However, he stressed that the absolute rule of the Chinese Communist Party would remain unchallenged and that China would continue on its socialist path.

The 14-day congress approved sweeping government leadership changes, marking the end of China's first orderly and peaceful transfer of power to a younger generation of officials since 1949.

New Premier Wen Jiabao, in his inaugural press conference televised live nationwide, promised to continue with economic reforms and opening up to the outside world.

'Governing China is a project that is extremely demanding. Only by reform, opening up and implementing socialism with

Chinese characteristics can we build a more modern, prosperous China,' he said.

Describing himself 'as a very ordinary person' who spent his childhood in war-torn rural China, Mr Wen promised a series of rural reforms including slashing taxes and reducing the headcount of rural officials to boost the incomes of the country's nearly 900 million farmers.

He said the new government would continue to maintain macro-economic stability and a pro-active spending policy to boost economic growth so that more jobs will be created for the unemployed.

Mr Wen said his administration would step up efforts to narrow the income gap between urban and rural areas, and the gap between the booming eastern coastal regions and the underdeveloped inland provinces.

Echoing Mr Hu, he said his cabinet would seek to uphold the rule of law and subject itself to the supervision of the people and media.

Citing the late Mao Zedong, Mr Wen said he and his new cabinet would be ready to take up responsibilities and be accountable for their actions.

'Only if everybody takes up his or her responsibilities will the people and government not perish,' he quoted Mao as saying.

Mr Wen has tried to portray himself as the champion of the ordinary and poor.

He said he spent 25 years living and working in harsh conditions before he was moved to Beijing and he later visited 1,800 out of a total of 2,500 rural counties on fact-finding trips.

'I deeply understand how hard the life can be [in the country],' he said.

Citing the poems of ancient scholars, he said he would devote himself to the improvement of the well-being of the Chinese people.

He said the central government would do whatever it took to help Hong Kong through its difficult economic period and call upon Hong Kong people to boost unity and confidence.