China unveils highest leadership body

China on Thursday unveiled the makeup of the new Politburo Standing Committee, the highest leadership body that will determine the country’s direction over the next decade. As widely expected, Xi Jinping was named general secretary of the Communist Party, replacing Hu Jintao, while Li Keqiang was named premier, state media reported. Xi also replaced former General Party Secretary and President Hu Jintao as chief of the China Military Commission, according to state media. Former Vice-Premier Wang Qishan, former Vice Premier and Chongqing party chief Zhang Dejiang, former Publicity Department chief Liu Yunshan, former Shanghai party chief Yu Zhengsheng and former Tianjin party chief Zhang Gaoli were also named to the committee. The committee was reduced from nine to seven members, as many media outlets had predicted.