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China's newly-elected President Xi Jinping delivers a speech during the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 17, 2013. BEIJING, March 16-- Nearly 3,000 deputies to the national legislature made their choice on Thursday, electing Xi Jinping as the leader of China and its military. Long applause filled the Great Hall of the People as Xi was elected president of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and chairman of the PRC Central Military Commission. Xi's new role follows his election on Nov. 15 last year, when he was elected general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission. Xi is now the leader of the CPC, the state and the military. Xi rose from his seat and bowed to the deputies. In a warm handshake, Xi was congratulated by his predecessor Hu Jintao. Xi is the seventh Chinese president following Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, Li Xiannian, Yang Shangkun, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao. While meeting the press shortly after he became general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Xi said the new leadership would shoulder the responsibilities for the nation, the people and the Party and he pledged to fulfill the missions entrusted by the people. Four months into office, Xi has started with a good beginning by pushing forward a series of popular policy measures. | 
