BEIJING (AFP) - Chinese President Hu Jintao replaced ageing former leader Jiang Zemin as the nation`s highest military chief, the final stage in the ruling Communist Party`s first bloodless transfer of power.
Hu`s long-awaited rise to the chairmanship of the party`s powerful Central Military Commission culminates a leadership transition that began in November 2002 when he replaced Jiang as party head.
Hu, 61, also took over from Jiang as president in March 2003.
He has now solidified his position as the core of the fourth generation of communist leadership following the revolutionary Mao Zedong, economic reformer Deng Xiaoping and Jiang, 78.
Hu`s appointment was confirmed on the final day of a high-level meeting of the party`s Central Committee, which also approved a wide-ranging policy document aimed at consolidating party power through the democratization of its secretive inner workings.
"The plenum unanimously agreed that this (Hu`s promotion) is conducive to upholding the fundamental principle and system of the party`s absolute leadership over the military," a communique said.
Following the closure of the plenum, Jiang met Hu and the Central Committee at the Great Hall of the People and in a short but emotional speech urged the party to follow Hu`s leadership, central television reported.
"I hope that everyone will work hard and keep advancing under the leadership of the party Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as general secretary," Jiang said, his voice booming.
"I`m convinced that our party`s cause will witness more and bigger victories."
Sources said before the announcement that there was much pressure within the central committee for Jiang to retire, following in the footsteps of Deng who quit as chairman of the military commission in 1989 in favour of Jiang.
There was also speculation that he may have prostate cancer.
As well as Hu`s promotion, General Xu Caihou was made vice chairman of the military commission, joining other vice chairmen Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan and General Guo Boxiong as China`s top military leaders, Xinhua news agency said.
The commission itself was expanded from four to seven members, with the top leaders of the army, navy and air force all assuming positions.
While Jiang still holds the chairmanship of the state military commission, his removal from that post is expected to be a formality when the National People`s Congress (NPC), or parliament, meets next March.
Jiang`s resignation is set to help Hu make his mark on politics and to push through his pet reforms -- bringing greater transparency and democracy to the ruling party and suppressing corruption.
Such reforms, however, are expected to be carried out only if they work to consolidate the party`s stranglehold over China`s one-party political system.
Last week, in a major speech marking the 50th anniversary of the NPC, Hu ruled out the implementation of Western-style democratic reforms, saying it would lead the country into a "blind alley."
Premier Wen Jiabao will also expect to see his powers to control the country`s booming economy strengthened, since Jiang`s resignation will likely streamline the chain of command at the highest level.
Although Hu and Wen are seen as representing a new generation of leaders, there is little doubt that ensuring the Communist Party`s one-party rule remains the priority of all top party leaders.
"Enhancing the party`s ruling capacity is a major issue of strategic importance to the fate of both the building of socialism and the Chinese nation," Xinhua said at the opening of the meeting.
Paul Harris, a political scientist at Hong Kong`s Lingnan University, cautioned that it was still too early to say the transition was completely over.
"The assumption is that Jiang Zemin is out nominally, he has given up his title, but all along he has been trying to be like Deng Xiaoping and he wants to be active from behind the scenes," he said.
Jiang`s ability to rule behind the scenes would be strengthened by a cabal of senior party and government leaders whom he promoted during his 15 years in power, including Vice President Zeng Qinghong, Harris said.
The transition between Mao and Deng saw the death of two of Mao`s successors, including president Liu Shaoqi who died in a Chinese prison. The transition to Jiang came only after political infighting culminated in the bloody crackdown on the 1989 Tiananmen democracy protests.