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Cary Huang

Election completes the transfer of power to a younger generation of leaders

National People's Congress deputies approved President Hu Jintao's election as state military chief with a near-unanimous vote and loud applause yesterday.

An overwhelming 2,886  delegates voted for Mr Hu, with six  voting against him and five  abstaining.

The chairmanship of the state Central Military Commission (CMC) is a largely ceremonial post and the result was widely expected as Mr Hu had already succeeded Jiang Zemin    in September as chairman of the Communist Party's CMC, which holds the real power over the army.

The vote marked the symbolic end of the 21/2-year transfer of power to a younger generation of leaders.

Mr Hu, 62, succeeded Mr Jiang, 78, as chief of the ruling Communist Party in November 2002 and as state president in March 2003.  He now holds all top positions at the head of the party, military and state.

People's Liberation Army deputies voiced their support for  Mr Hu during meetings over the past week and in  interviews with domestic and foreign media.

General Zhou Youliang  , deputy commander of the PLA's General Logistics Department, said Mr Hu had been directly involved in  important decisions regarding the modernisation of the army's training, organisation and armaments, and the upgrading of its information technology since becoming a CMC vice-chairman in 1999.

Mr Jiang's  resignation  as chairman of the state CMC, his  remaining official post, was approved by the NPC on Tuesday.

In a written speech, he praised Mr Hu as a 'young and energetic' leader with 'rich leading experience'.

General Zhou said Mr Hu had been playing a senior leadership role since becoming provincial party chief of Guizhou  in 1985.

Dismissing concern over Mr Hu's lack of military background, General Wen Guangchun  , another deputy commander of the General Logistics Department, said Mr Jiang had also lacked military experience and connections when he became CMC chairman in 1989. Mr Jiang was the first PLA commander in chief without an army service record.

'The army absolutely follows the command of the party leadership regardless of who is the chief,' General Wen said.

However, both generals said there was a need for further increases in military spending, even though the government has projected a 12.6 per cent increase in this year's budget.

Lieutenant-General Xu Genchu,   vice-president of the Academy of Military Sciences, said Mr Hu's appointment as chairman of the state military commission signalled the completion of a smooth leadership transition in the PLA.

He praised former chairman Mr Jiang for leading the army through various difficult  situations in international relations.

'He had his own thinking in leading the army and he made great contributions to the army.'

Lieutenant-General Xu said he believed Mr Hu would inject new ideas in building up the army.

Additional reporting by Josephine Ma



Hu voted military chief by landslide