China went through its biggest leadership reshuffle in over a decade last November when Vice President Hu Jintao took over the reins of the ruling Communist Party.

Heading a new generation of leaders, Hu became the new president of the world's most populous nation at this year's National People's Congress.

The rubber-stamp parliament also elected a new premier and senior ministers, who face tough challenges in streamlining China's bloated bureaucracy and implementing economic measures to boost growth and curb unemployment.