Chinese parliament approves new Cabinet lineup

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – China's top legislature on Sunday confirmed the new lineup of the State Council, or the Cabinet, at its ongoing annual session, retaining the officials of the Finance Ministry and the Central Bank, official media reported.

At the National People's Congress (NPC), lawmakers endorsed the vice premiers, state councilors, ministers, governor of the central bank, auditor-general, and secretary-general of the State Council after they were nominated by newly chosen Premier Li Qiang, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

The NPC approved reappointment of Yi Gang and Liu Kun for the leading roles at the Central Bank and the Finance Ministry, as the country grapples with stubborn financial risks and technological bottlenecks in President Xi Jinping’s norm-breaking third five-year term.

Ding Xuexiang, He Lifeng, Zhang Guoqing, and Liu Guozhong were confirmed as vice-premiers, whereas Zheng Shanjie was nominated to replace He Lifeng as chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, the top economic planner.

Jinping signed a presidential order to appoint the vice premiers, state councilors, and secretary-general of the State Council, who later pledged allegiance to the constitution.

The retention of the two senior officials, both past the retirement age and no longer members of the Communist Party’s elite Central Committee, also suggested a new political logic, with the decision-making power shifting to the party apparatus, local English daily South China Morning Post said, citing analysts.