Chinese vice president thrown out in leadership reshuffle

China’s politically powerful vice president stepped down today in a reshuffling of the Communist Party leadership, removing from office a rival to President Hu Jintao.

Closing a week-long party congress, delegates selected a new Central Committee, a body that approves leadership positions and sets broad policy goals, with vice president Zeng Qinghong not among those selected, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.