The absence of retired leaders from yesterday's Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference opening ceremony apparently reflected the succession of power in the Communist Party leadership.
Except for Vice-President Zeng Qinghong , 'third-generation leaders' such as former president Jiang Zemin , former premier Zhu Rongji and former National People's Congress chairman Li Peng did not take part in the ceremony.
Mr Zeng, 69, is expected to step down at the NPC session and keep a low profile after his retirement, which was confirmed after he relinquished his position as a member to the elite Politburo Standing Committee last autumn at the party's 17th National Congress.
His party portfolio has been taken over by Xi Jinping , former Shanghai party secretary and son of late party elder Xi Zhongxun .
Mr Jiang and other retired leaders attended the 17th congress.
Sitting on the presidium yesterday, Mr Zeng seemed to enjoy the event as he shook hands and greeted other leaders.
