The National People's Congress gave Vice-Premier Wen Jiabao, a longtime protege of Premier Zhu Rongji, its overwhelming approval yesterday as the next premier of the People's Republic.
The two shook hands amicably in front of the nearly 3,000 NPC delegates after Mr Wen received 2,906 votes of support. Only three delegates voted against him, while 16 abstained.
Most delegates clearly supported the 60-year-old Tianjin-born Mr Wen, who is known for his easy-going, low-key style and good temper, which contrast with Mr Zhu's fiery reputation. 'I believe Wen Jiabao will do an even better job than Premier Zhu because he is younger,' said Wang Xinhong, a delegate from Shandong province.
'Each has his individual strengths and abilities. Wen Jiabao may not seem very prominent in character at the moment, but I believe he will develop his own strengths in the future.'
For a man who was once a senior aide to former party chief Zhao Zhiyang - who was purged after the crackdown on the June 4, 1989, student uprising and remains under house arrest - Mr Wen has not only bounced back, he is now in the driver's seat.
'Wen's rise to the premiership says two things,' said Laurence Brahm, a Beijing-based political economist. 'It says that he is very smart and careful and is a survivor. Deng Xiaoping was a survivor. Zhu Rongji was a survivor. It also says a lot about China today. The guy who stood next to Zhao Zhiyang in Tiananmen Square when Zhao cried with the students - now he is the premier.'