Xi Jinping announces third term in power and new top team

Oct 23: Xi Jinping has a third term as China's leader, in a break with recent precedent.

He has also introduced his new top team - which includes former Shanghai party chief Li Qiang as the new premier.

Saturday's closing ceremony saw Xi's predecessor Hu Jintao escorted out, apparently unwillingly, with state media later saying he had not been well.

Xi, 69, is arguably the most powerful party chief since the first communist-era leader Mao Zedong who died in 1976.

After announcing his third term, Xi addressed the media to introduce his new leadership team.

The speech also offered an important clue about the direction in which Xi might take China - there has been growing fear that the country is closing off from the world economy.

But Xi said, "China cannot develop without the world, and the world also needs China".

"After more than 40 years of unflagging efforts towards reform and opening up, we have created two miracles - rapid economic development and long-term social stability."