Professor of Government Cheng Li was quoted by Reuters in an article about leadership change to take place in China late this year. "I think Wen Jiabao, Zeng Qinghong and Hu Jintao - these three people are secure for the next Standing Committee membership seats," said Li. "All other people are just question marks."
The article mentioned the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC) marked beginning of the final year for the three most powerful men in China; Jiang Zemin, Li Pen and Zhu Rongji. The NPC will not choose the new party leaders, but it will vote on who fills government posts next year. And many NPC delegates could also take seats on the party's new 235-member Central Committee and 23-member Politburo.
Jiang, 75, is supporting for his protege Zeng Qinghong. However, Jiang's designated successor as party chief and president is Vice President Hu Jintao. "Of course you can say that Hu Jintao probably will be a figurehead while the real power still goes to Jiang Zemin and Zeng Qinghong," said Cheng Li
"I think Wen Jiabao, Zeng Qinghong and Hu Jintao - these three people are secure for the next Standing Committee membership seats," said Cheng Li. "All other people are just question marks.".
