China gets first president since Cultural Revolution

Veteran economic planner Li Xiannian, widely respected for challenging some of the late Mao Tse-tung's policies, was chosen Saturday as China's first president since the 1960s. The largely ceremonial post was abolished during the Cultural Revolution.

China's national assembly also selected Ulanhu, a Mongolian member of the Communist Party Politburo, as vice-president.

In related news, China's strongman Deng Xiaoping took on the important post of chairman of the newly created Central Military Commission.