From guardian.co.uk:
Chinese politicians have appointed the vice-president, Xi Jinping, to a key military position, state media reported today, reinforcing expectations that he will become the country’s next leader.
Xi has long been expected to take over when Hu Jintao steps down as party general secretary in 2012 and as president the following year.
The state news agency Xinhua announced that Xi had become a vice-chairman of the central military commission, which oversees the People’s Liberation Army, after a four-day meeting of the party’s central committee.
See also: “Xi Jinping on track to become China’s next president” from the Los Angeles Times.
