Xi Jinping has been named the President of China for the next ten years as the country's leadership handed the reins of power to the next generation.

At the culmination of the Communist Party's 18<sup>th National Congress, seven politburo members were also elected, down from nine, with Li Keqiang selected as China's new Premier.

In a press conference Xi stated that he would strive to continue to improve the lives of the Chinese people:

"Our responsibility is to rally and lead the whole party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in continuing to liberate our way of thinking, carry on reform and opening, further unleash and develop the productive forces, work hard to resolve the difficulties the people face in both work and life, and steadfastly take the road of prosperity for all."

Xi went on to acknowledge that there were many problems the country needed to face as well as it enters this new era:

"In the new environment, our party faces many severe challenges and there are many pressing problems within the party that need to be resolved, especially some party members and cadres being corrupt, taking bribes, being out of touch with the people, undue emphasis on formalities, and bureaucratism. These must be addressed with great efforts. The whole party must be vigilant against them."

Mr Xi replaces Hu Jintao, who presided over a decade of remarkable growth in the country that saw China became the world's second largest economy. Maintaining that economic growth, as well as improving the lives of the country's over 1.3 bn people, will be top of his priorities.

Written and presented by Alfred Joyner