Beijing appoints new chiefs
Beijing appoints new chiefs
Changes set tone for President Hu to consolidate power ahead of party's 17th congress
By Clarissa Oon, CHINA CORRESPONDENT
BEIJING - CHINA'S Communist Party has appointed an associate of President Hu Jintao as deputy party chief of northern Shanxi province in a series of personnel changes ahead of a major leadership reshuffle next month.
It also appointed new chiefs for the northern province of Hebei, the tax administration bureau and the official Xinhua news agency.
Mr Meng Xuenong, 58, was appointed the Communist Party deputy secretary of Shanxi on Thursday, weeks before the party's 17th congress on Oct 15.
During the congress, President Hu is expected to further consolidate power by promoting allies to key positions.
The move marks a political comeback for Mr Meng, a former mayor of Beijing, who had worked with Mr Hu in his power base - the Communist Youth League.
Mr Meng was sacked as Beijing mayor at the height of the Sars crisis in 2003.
He now replaces outgoing Shanxi deputy secretary Yu Youjun, 54, and will eventually also take over Mr Yu's position as governor, said the pro-Beijing Hong Kong daily Wen Wei Po.
Mr Yu is slated to move to an unidentified position in the central government, state media reported yesterday.
Hong Kong's Ming Pao newspaper also cited unnamed official sources as saying that Mr Yu, who holds a doctorate in philosophy, will be appointed the new Culture Minister.
In other personnel movements, the head of the national defence technology commission, Mr Zhang Yunchuan, 61, yesterday replaced Mr Bai Keming, 63, as Hebei party chief.
On Thursday, vice-governor of central Hunan province and a former senior treasury official, Mr Xiao Jie, 50, was promoted to the position of director of the State Administration of Taxation. Mr Xiao replaces Mr Xie Xuren, 60.
Mr Xie was installed as Finance Minister following the abrupt resignation of Mr Jin Renqing earlier this week. Hong Kong media has speculated that Mr Jin was removed for his involvement in a sex scandal.
The personnel reshuffles have also affected state news agency Xinhua, which has announced the appointment of a new editor-in -chief. Mr He Ping, 50, was promoted from his post as vice-president of the agency on Thursday. He replaces Mr Nan Zhenzhong, who has reached retirement age.
Of the latest round of appointments, it is the handover of the No. 2 leadership position in coal-rich Shanxi province that has drawn the most attention.
Shanxi was rocked recently by a massive slave labour scandal, which prompted some observers to speculate that heads might roll as a result of an investigation.
Police have rescued more than 1,300 victims - including teenagers and the mentally handicapped - all forced to work at brick kilns for no pay and under appalling conditions.
Shanxi's new deputy secretary, Mr Meng, is no stranger to controversy. His removal as Beijing mayor in 2003 was one of several sackings over the poor handling of the Sars outbreak, which officials had initially tried to cover up.
After his mayoral stint, Mr Meng was appointed deputy head of a multi-billion dollar project to divert water from China's flood-prone south to its parched north, Reuters reported yesterday.
Changes set tone for President Hu to consolidate power ahead of party's 17th congress
By Clarissa Oon, CHINA CORRESPONDENT
BEIJING - CHINA'S Communist Party has appointed an associate of President Hu Jintao as deputy party chief of northern Shanxi province in a series of personnel changes ahead of a major leadership reshuffle next month.
It also appointed new chiefs for the northern province of Hebei, the tax administration bureau and the official Xinhua news agency.
Mr Meng Xuenong, 58, was appointed the Communist Party deputy secretary of Shanxi on Thursday, weeks before the party's 17th congress on Oct 15.
During the congress, President Hu is expected to further consolidate power by promoting allies to key positions.
The move marks a political comeback for Mr Meng, a former mayor of Beijing, who had worked with Mr Hu in his power base - the Communist Youth League.
Mr Meng was sacked as Beijing mayor at the height of the Sars crisis in 2003.
He now replaces outgoing Shanxi deputy secretary Yu Youjun, 54, and will eventually also take over Mr Yu's position as governor, said the pro-Beijing Hong Kong daily Wen Wei Po.
Mr Yu is slated to move to an unidentified position in the central government, state media reported yesterday.
Hong Kong's Ming Pao newspaper also cited unnamed official sources as saying that Mr Yu, who holds a doctorate in philosophy, will be appointed the new Culture Minister.
In other personnel movements, the head of the national defence technology commission, Mr Zhang Yunchuan, 61, yesterday replaced Mr Bai Keming, 63, as Hebei party chief.
On Thursday, vice-governor of central Hunan province and a former senior treasury official, Mr Xiao Jie, 50, was promoted to the position of director of the State Administration of Taxation. Mr Xiao replaces Mr Xie Xuren, 60.
Mr Xie was installed as Finance Minister following the abrupt resignation of Mr Jin Renqing earlier this week. Hong Kong media has speculated that Mr Jin was removed for his involvement in a sex scandal.
The personnel reshuffles have also affected state news agency Xinhua, which has announced the appointment of a new editor-in -chief. Mr He Ping, 50, was promoted from his post as vice-president of the agency on Thursday. He replaces Mr Nan Zhenzhong, who has reached retirement age.
Of the latest round of appointments, it is the handover of the No. 2 leadership position in coal-rich Shanxi province that has drawn the most attention.
Shanxi was rocked recently by a massive slave labour scandal, which prompted some observers to speculate that heads might roll as a result of an investigation.
Police have rescued more than 1,300 victims - including teenagers and the mentally handicapped - all forced to work at brick kilns for no pay and under appalling conditions.
Shanxi's new deputy secretary, Mr Meng, is no stranger to controversy. His removal as Beijing mayor in 2003 was one of several sackings over the poor handling of the Sars outbreak, which officials had initially tried to cover up.
After his mayoral stint, Mr Meng was appointed deputy head of a multi-billion dollar project to divert water from China's flood-prone south to its parched north, Reuters reported yesterday.
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