National Legislature Decides On New Cabinet Lineup

Politburo standing committee member Ding Xuexiang was on Sunday elected as the nation’s first vice-premier, at a plenary meeting of the National People's Congress in Beijing.

Ding will succeed Han Zheng, who is now vice president. The other vice-premiers are He Li-feng, Zhang Guo-qing and Liu Guo-zhong. All three are politburo members.

Premier Li Qiang nominated Yi Gang, 65, to remain governor of the People's Bank of China and Liu Kun, 66, to stay on as finance minister.

President Xi Jinping opted for a measure of continuity in key economic policymaking posts after installing Li as premier, to replace the retiring Li Keqiang.

As expected, Wang Wentao was nominated to stay on as minister of commerce. Zheng Shanjie, governor and deputy party secretary of Zhejiang province, was nominated to take over as head of the National Development and Reform Commission, the powerful state planner. (Xinhua/Reuters)