BEIJING, March 15 (UPI) -- The Chinese parliament Saturday confirmed Xi Jinping, expected to succeed President Hu Jintao in 2013, as vice president.
The National People's Congress elected Hu to another five-year term until 2013 and also made him chairman of the Central Military Commission, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
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Wu Bangguo was appointed as chairman of the parliament's Standing Committee, who will lead a team of 160 members.
Xi Jinping, widely regarded as Hu's handpicked successor, has risen rapidly through the Communist Party hierarchy. Prior to becoming vice president, he had been a member of the powerful Politburo Standing Committee.
His promotion comes as China prepares to host the Summer Olympics in Beijing in August.
