 | China's President Hu Jintao waits for the result of the election of the chairman of the state Central Military Commission at the National People's Congress in Beijing March 13, 2005. China's parliament elected Hu to replace former president and Communist Party chief Jiang Zemin from his final official post, the largely ceremonial chairmanship of the state Central Military Commission. click to open  |
 | China's President Hu Jintao (C) stands after being elected chairman of the state Central Military Commission at the National People's Congress in Beijing March 13, 2005. China's parliament elected Hu to replace former president and Communist Party chief Jiang Zemin from his final official post, the largely ceremonial chairmanship of the state Central Military Commission. click to open |
 | Hong Kong's outgoing chief executive Tung Chee-hwa gestures after he was voted in as a vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) during the annual National People's Congress (NPC) in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Tung resigned as chief executive and China's decision to shorten the term of Hong Kong's next leader had observers warning of trouble ahead, saying the move had damaged the city's autonomy and would likely face a legal challenge. click to open |
 | Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) is greetedby Premier Wen Jiabao (L) at the close of a National People's Congress (NPC) session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. China's legislature approved President Hu Jintao as the country's official military chief, marking the final step in China's first bloodless leadership transition. Hu, 62, replaces aging former leader Jiang Zemin, 78, as chairman of the state's Central Military Commission (CMC), selected by an overwhelming 2,886 votes at today's NPC session with six votes against and five undecided. click to open |
 | An attendant pulls the chair for China's President Hu Jintao (front) after voting at the National People's Congress in Beijing March 13, 2005. China's parliament elected Hu to replace former president and Communist Party chief Jiang Zemin from his final official post, the largely ceremonial chairmanship of the state Central Military Commission. click to open |
 | China's President Hu Jintao stands up as delegates applaud after he was elected as the head of the state Central Military Commission at the National People's Congress in Beijing, March 13, 2005. China's parliament elected President Hu to the largely ceremonial chairmanship of the state Central Military Commission on Sunday, completing the handover of power from former leader Jiang Zemin. click to open |
 | China's President Hu Jintao casts his vote during the election of the chairman of the state Central Military Commission at the National People's Congress in Beijing, March 13, 2005. China's parliament elected President Hu Jintao to the largely ceremonial chairmanship of the state Central Military Commission on Sunday, completing the handover of power from former leader Jiang Zemin. click to open |
 | China's President Hu Jintao (front) smiles during the election of the chairman of the state Central Military Commission at the National People's Congress in Beijing, March 13, 2005. Hu vowed to protect the sovereignty of the world's most populous nation on Sunday after being chosen head of the state Central Military Commission, completing the handover of power from Jiang Zemin. click to open |
 | Two security personnel guard the upper level during the session of the annual National People's Congress (NPC) in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. China will employ 'non-peaceful means' to prevent Taiwan's independence if all possibilities of peaceful reunification are exhausted, says the text of a draft law expected to be passed by Beijing's parliament. click to open |
 | China's Premier Wen Jiabao adjusts his eyeglasses during the closing ceremony of the 2,300-member Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, in Beijing March 12, 2005. China accepted the resignation of outgoing Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa on Saturday, the official Xinhua news agency said. click to open |
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