BEIJING — More than a year after becoming China's president, Hu Jintao was handed the full reins of power Sunday when his predecessor, Jiang Zemin, gave up the nation's most powerful military post.
The move ends an awkward power-sharing arrangement that has seen two rival camps maneuvering for position as China faces a number of major foreign and domestic policy challenges, including relations with Taiwan, North Korea's nuclear program, government corruption and rapid economic growth.
The nation learned of the change in a somber newscast Sunday evening after a four-day, closed-door meeting of the Communist Party's Central Committee. The announcement suggested that the move was Jiang's idea, even though the 78-year-old former president had been under growing pressure to step aside in favor of Hu, 61.
Jiang's resignation clears the way for the next generation of leaders to put their full stamp on affairs of state, but analysts said they did not expect any immediate shift in China's foreign or domestic policies as Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao continue to move incrementally.
Still, many observers said the transition showed that China's governing machinery was gradually modernizing, making decisions more on the basis of consensus and increasing political control over the military.
After the disorderly transition from Mao Tse-tung to Deng Xiaoping, and from Deng to Jiang, Jiang's resignation completes China's first smooth leadership handover since the Communists took over in 1949.
"This is great for China and great for Jiang himself," said Wang Yukai, professor at the National School of Administration in Beijing. "Jiang has successfully filled his historic task, and other leaders will now have much more freedom. This is the real start of the Hu era."
Taking over as chairman of the Communist Party's powerful Central Military Commission, Hu now holds the nation's three top posts -- president, military chief and Communist Party head. Jiang does retain a second military title in the state military commission until March, but analysts said it was largely ceremonial.
For China-watchers, what doesn't happen often can be as significant as what does. Some had speculated that Vice President Zeng Qinghong, a key Jiang ally, might be put on the military commission in exchange for Jiang's resignation. This would have allowed Jiang to continue to wield influence, particularly given Zeng's reputation for hardball political tactics.
