AKIPRESS.COM - China has revealed its new senior leadership committee, breaking with tradition by not including a clear successor to President Xi Jinping, BBCreported.

The omission cements Mr Xi's grip on China for the next five years and possibly beyond, a day after his name was written into the constitution.

Five new appointments were made to the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, China's most powerful body.

The absence of an heir raises questions over how long Mr Xi intends to rule.

Apart from 64-year-old Mr Xi, premier Li Keqiang, 62, was the only committee member to retain his position.

Vice Premier Wang Yang, also 62, a former party secretary of Guangdong province, has been appointed China's executive vice-premier.

Han Zheng, 63, the party secretary of Shanghai, has been promoted to lead the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

They will be joined by Zhao Leji, 60, who will lead the party's anti-corruption body; Li Zhanshu, 67, a close Xi ally who is expected to lead China's parliament; and Wang Huning, 62.