Lawmakers endorse new vice-premiers
By Zhao Huanxin (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-03-17 16:06

Li Keqiang

Hui Liangyu

Zhang Dejiang

Wang Qishan

China's top legislature endorsed the new Cabinet nominated by Premier Wen Jiabao Monday afternoon, approving Li Keqiang, Hui Liangyu, Zhang Dejiang and Wang Qishan as vice-premiers of the State Council.

Nearly 3,000 deputies to the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC) also voted for State councilors, the secretary-general of the State Council and more than two dozen ministerial members of the State Council.

The top legislature approved Liu Yandong, Liang Guanglie, Ma Kai, Meng Jianzhu and Dai Bingguo as State councillors.

Ma was also approved as secretary-general of the State Council, while Liang also serves as the Minister of Defence.

New ministers include those to head the five "super-ministries," which constituted part of the country’s latest government reshuffle plan. Li Yizhong was voted to head the Ministry of Industry and Information, Yin Weimin was approved as Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, Zhou Shengxian serves as Minister of Environmental Protection, Jiang Weixing, Minister of Housing and Rrban-rural Construction, and Li Shenglin was approved as Minister of Transport.

Zhou Xiaochuan remains governor of the People's Bank of China, while Liu Jiayi was promoted to the post of the auditor-general of the National Audit Office, replacing Li Jinhua.

The 11th NPC opens on March 5 and is scheduled to conclude on Tuesday.

List of ministerial members of China's State Council approved at the seventh plenary meeting of the First Session of the 11th National People's Congress:

Yang Jiechi: minister of foreign affairs;

Liang Guanglie: minister of national defense;

Zhang Ping: minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission;

Zhou Ji: minister of education;

Wan Gang: minister of science and technology;

Li Yizhong: minister of industry and information;

Yang Jing: minister in charge of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission;

Meng Jianzhu: minister of public security;

Geng Huichang: minister of state security;

Ma Wen: minister of supervision;

Li Xueju: minister of civil affairs;

Wu Aiying: minister of justice;

Xie Xuren: minister of finance;

Yin Weimin: minister of human resources and social security;

Xu Shaoshi: minister of land and resources;

Jiang Weixin: minister of housing and urban-rural construction;

Liu Zhijun: minister of railways;

Li Shenglin: minister of transport;

Chen Lei: minister of water resources;

Sun Zhengcai: minister of agriculture;

Zhou Shengxian: minister of environmental protection;

Chen Deming: minister of commerce;

Cai Wu: minister of culture

Chen Zhu: minister of health;

Li Bin: minister in charge of the State Population and Family Planning Commission;

Zhou Xiaochuan: governor of the People's Bank of China;

Liu Jiayi: auditor-general of the National Audit Office.