It’s Officially Official: Xi Jinping Is General Secretary Of CCP, Li Keqiang Is Premier

[WHICH NEWS ORGANIZATION WILL BE FIRST TO PUBLISH A PHOTO OF THE NEW SEVEN? WE'RE STILL WAITING. Reuters at 3 to 1 odds, I think. Rolling updates after jump.] (UPDATE, 12:41 pm: Mark MacKinnon wins! We’re tired of waiting for an official photo though. The image above has been appended.) (UPDATE, 12:55 pm: Xinhua wins, of course.)

China’s seven highest leaders: Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan, Zhang Gaoli.

Xinhua breaking the story on Twitter, as expected:

Xi Jinping was elected general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

— Xinhua News Agency (@XHNews) November 15, 2012

The new top Chinese leadership: Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan, Zhang Gaoli.

— Xinhua News Agency (@XHNews) November 15, 2012

XI JINPING NAMED CHAIRMAN OF CPC CENTRAL MILITARY COMMISSION

— Xinhua News Agency (@XHNews) November 15, 2012

Xi’s speaking on TV right this moment. His first words were to apologize for being late: “Sorry to have kept you waiting.” (Difference No. 1,134 between Chinese and American politics.) He’s speaking very deliberately. The translator is doing very well. More reactions later.

UPDATE, 12:25 pm: Mark MacKinnon of Canada’s national newspaper, The Globe and Mail, with the win!

Now for a picture that’s at least 100 KB…

UPDATE, 12:41 pm: Xinhua just tweeted a picture — screenshot? — of Xi Jinping’s speech. They’re still new to this Twitter thing.