China's most powerful politicians

June 30 2007, Hong Kong: The Chinese leader, Hu Jintao, inspects People's Liberation Army troops stationed in Hong Kong Photograph: Kin Cheung-Pool/Getty

March 3 2006, Beijing, China: The Chinese president, Hu Jintao (l) and fellow senior legislator Wu Bangguo applaud during the opening ceremony of the party conference at the Great Hall of the People Photograph: Adrian Bradshaw/EPA

May 16 2007, Shanghai, China: The Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao, delivers a speech at the African Development Bank's annual meeting Photograph: Eugene Hoshiko/AP

September 15 2007, Kobe, Japan: China's fourth-ranked politburo standing committee member, Jia Qinglin, delivers a speech to the 9th Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention Photograph: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP

July 7 2003, Havana, Cuba: Li Changchun, a member of the Chinese politburo standing committee, shakes hands with Fidel Castro Photograph: Rafael Perez/AFP

October 16, Beijing, China: Xi Jinping, Shanghai's communist party chief, attends a group discussion during the second day of the five-yearly Chinese Communist party congress Photograph: Guang Niu/Getty

Octoberr 16 2007, Beijing, China: Li Keqiang, Communist party secretary of Liaoning province Photograph: Andy Wong/AP

October 22 2007, Beijing China: He Guoqiang, one of the new, nine-seat ppolitburo standing committee, greets the media at the Great Hall of the People Photograph: Guang Niu/AP

October 22 2007, Beijing, China: Zhou Yongkang, public security minister, waves as he is introduced to the media as part of the new politburo standing committee Photograph: Ng Han Guan/AP