After years of preparation and months of maneuvering, China finally made Hu Jintao its president on Saturday, handing power to a new generation of leaders expected to continue liberal economic policies while maintaining tight Communist Party political control. Jiang Zemin, 76, stepped into the political twilight with a grin to his successor - and wide expectations that he would still wield significant influence over a government coping with a growing role in international affairs and increasing turmoil over economic reforms at home. Hu, 60, anointed long ago by the late Deng Xiaoping, now controls both party and government, the two most prominent posts in China.

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