The Fourth Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee ended Friday in Beijing after it endorsed the committee's decision on major issues concerning intra-party democracy and anti-corruption.

Xi was widely expected to be appointed to one of the top positions on the CPC's Central Military Commission, a move that would have signalled the intention for him to succeed Hu Jintao as head of both the state and the party.

In 1999, Hu then vice president, was made a vice chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission in the Fourth Plenary Session of 15th CPC Central Committee, paving the way for him to succeed Jiang Zimin as China's top leader.

Analysts said that there are several possible explanations for Xi's omission from the leadership of the CPC Central Military Commission.

They said perhaps the session was not in a hurry to make decisions on personnel changes since it was mainly focused on issues regrading intra-party democracy and anti-corruption measures.

The analysts also noted that Hu had served as deputy head of state for many years before he was named a vice chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission in 1999. As Xi has been vice president for only two years, it is possible that he needs to be "observed" for a longer period of time, they said.

The other possibility is that there is still some uncertainty about Xi succeeding Hu in 2012, according to the analysts.

A China expert, who asked not to be named, told the Central News Agency that Xi was made deputy head of state at the 17th party congress because of CPC internal power struggles, rather than because of a personal choice on Hu's part.

The expert said that now President Hu has a firm grip on power, he may have a different idea about who should be his successor. Another China expert, however said that the CPC's decision not to give Xi the post at this time does not necessarily mean hopes are dim for him to eventually take over the leadership of the country.

According to the Hong Kong newspaper Mingpao, it is still possible that Xi would be named as a vice chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission after China's 60th national day celebrations on Oct. 1. (By Staley Cheung & Bear Lee)