Reshuffle continues as four provincial leaders named

The reshuffle of key political positions in China continued on Wednesday as new leaders were appointed to four provincial regions.

You Quan was appointed Party chief of Fujian province, filling the leadership vacancy left by Sun Chunlan, who was moved to Tianjin last month to be the Party chief there.

You had been deputy secretary-general of the State Council since 2008, according to Xinhua News Agency.

You’s resume, released by Xinhua, is highlighted by his work in economic sectors. The 58-year-old served successively as a member of the central bank’s monetary policy committee, deputy director of the State Administration of Work Safety and president of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

You pledged to continue the development of the Western Coast Economic Zone and the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, both of which are famous for trade and economic cooperation with Taiwan, Xinhua reported.

You said issues concerning people’s livelihoods will also be at the top of his agenda, such as social insurance, education, employment and medical care.

Also on Wednesday, Peng Qinghua was appointed Party chief of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, after serving five years as director of the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong.

Bayin Chaolu was announced as acting governor of Jilin province.

Li Xiaopeng, former president of a State-owned electricity company, was appointed acting governor of coal-rich Shanxi province.

The 53-year-old Li replaced Wang Jun, who resigned after being named Party chief of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Tuesday.

Li became deputy governor of Shanxi in 2008, after serving as general manager of an electricity power giant — China Huaneng Group.

Li’s appointment is expected to help boost the economic restructuring of Shanxi after it lost its leading position in coal production to the neighboring Inner Mongolia in 2010.

Zhu Lijia, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance, said more leadership appointments and reshuffling are expected through March, when new central government leaders will be unveiled.

On Tuesday, Hu Chunhua, former Party chief of Inner Mongolia, was appointed Party chief of Guangdong province, and Wang Jun was appointed Party chief of Inner Mongolia.

At least 15 major appointments have been announced since Zhao Leji was appointed head of the Party’s central Organization Department in November after the 18th Party Congress.

Zhu said the arrangement indicates that more young officials will make their presence felt over the next five years, either in a province or at a central government agency.

More than half of the new officials are in their 50s, and Hu Chunhua is 49 years old.

Contact the writer at zhaoyinan@chinadaily.com.cn