Beijing, Nov 15 (IANS): Xi Jinping, who was Thursday elected general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), admitted that there were "many pressing problems" within the party and sought an end to corruption and bureaucratism.

"...Under the new conditions, our Party faces many severe challenges, and there are also many pressing problems within the Party that need to be resolved, particularly corruption, being divorced from the people, going through formalities and bureaucratism caused by some party officials," Xi said after he led the other newly-elected members of the Standing Committee of the 18th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau to meet the press Thursday morning at the Great Hall of the People.

"We must make every effort to solve these problems. The whole party must stay on full alert," Xinhua quoted Xi, who will take over from Hu Jintao as China president, as saying.

For the past week, China has been witness to a once-in-a-decade leadership transition that began with the 18th National Congress of the CPC. The congress ended Wednesday.