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Wen Jiabao bows out after 10 years as premier

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Wen Jiabao shakes hands with delegates after handing over the premiership to Li Keqiang at the NPC. Photo: AP

Wen Jiabao bowed out of political life yesterday, formally handing the premiership to Li Keqiang after 10 years in the job.

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Li became the new premier after a ceremonial election at the rubber-stamp National People’s Congress, being chosen by 2,940 deputies and opposed by only three.

After Li’s appointment was announced, Wen shook hands and chatted with more than a dozen people on his way out, including Li and new president Xi Jinping.

Dr Zhong Nanshan, a leading health expert and environmental critic, also bade him farewell.

Analysts said Wen had made his mark on history as a caring leader, but also blamed him for failing to keep property prices in check and preventing the income gap from widening.

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During his reign, Wen nurtured an image as a compassionate official who sympathised with the poor, earning the nickname “Grandpa Wen”.

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