BEIJING : Chinese President Hu Jintao was given a second term on Monday as head of the nation's armed forces, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Mr Hu, 64, was given another five years as chief of the Central Military Commission, a Communist Party body, as the newly elected party elite met in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Xinhua said.

The job keeps him as commander-in-chief of the People's Liberation Army, the world's biggest fighting force in terms of manpower with 2.3 million men and women in uniform.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was also reappointed to the party's new Politburo Standing Committee.

PM Wen, 65, held his place as China's officially third most powerful figure behind President Hu and parliamentary head Wu Bangguo in the party's most powerful decision making body.

The control of the Central Military Commission is the important third leg in Mr Hu's power base, alongside his responsibilities as secretary general of the Communist Party and state president.

President Hu starts the five-year term at a crucial time, as the Chinese military is in the midst of a highly ambitious modernisation drive intended to transform it into a world-class fighting force.

Military matters are also likely to stay high on the agenda in the coming months as the Taiwan issue is entering what Hu himself has termed a "highly dangerous period".

With presidential elections coming up next year on the island, China is watching carefully for any moves that could be interpreted as separatist.

It has warned it might attack in case of formal independence.

President Hu has only been chairman of the Central Military Commission for three years, as his predecessor, Jiang Zemin, only reluctantly gave up the title after relinquishing his other jobs as party leader and president to Hu. - AFP/ch