By Mewati Sitaram – Beijing
Li Qiang, 63, to become premier, he is nominated by Xi Jinping during the continuing annual meeting of China’s parliament, the official Xinhua news agency has reported. Li Qiang will replace Li Keqiang, who became premier in 2013 amid high hopes he would usher in liberal reforms. But his power was curbed by Xi, who increasingly side-lined Li Keqiang and placed allies in key strategic positions over him.
Li Qiang is the former Communist party chief of Shanghai, China’s largest city. He was confirmed as premier during the National People’s Congress, charged with managing the world’s second largest economy. He replaced the retiring Li Keqiang, widely perceived to have been sidelined as Xi tightened his grip on management of the economy. Li Keqiang is retiring during the National People’s Congress session that ends on Monday, after serving two five-year terms.
It may be noted that Li Qiang is a close ally of President Xi Jinping. He served as his chief of staff between 2004 and 2007, when Xi was provincial party secretary of eastern China’s Zhejiang province.
He was put on track for premier in October, when he was appointed to the number-two role on the politburo standing committee during the Communist party congress, held every five years.
It is worth mentioning that Xi is creating a hierarchy to choose his trusted lieutenants and installing a slate of loyalists in key positions amid the biggest government reshuffle in a decade. As a generation of more reform-minded officials retires and Xi further consolidates power after being elected president for an unprecedented third term on Friday.
Giving important portfolios, on Saturday, Liu Jinguo was nominated as a candidate for director of the National Commission of Supervision, which oversees the government’s anti-corruption work, Xinhua reported.
Separately, Zhang Jun was nominated candidate for the president of the supreme people’s court, and Ying Yong was nominated candidate for procurator general of China’s supreme people’s procuratorate. (Input with Reuters)
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
