Li Qiang appointed as China's new Prime Minister
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Since being designated the Communist Party's No. 2 in October, Li Qiang, the former Party head of Shanghai, has been the front-runner for the role.
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China's newly-elected Premier Li Qiang takes an oath after being elected during the fourth plenary session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on March 11, 2023. (Reuters)
Li Qiang was appointed Chinese Premier, as President Xi Jinping is completing his government this weekend.
Since being designated the Communist Party's No. 2 in October, Li Qiang, the former Party head of Shanghai, has been the front-runner for the role.
The 63-year-old earned nearly every vote from the National People's Congress's more than 2,900 delegates, a day after Xi was unanimously voted to a third term as President by deputies.
Delegates applauded when Xi ceremoniously deposited his votes in the ballot box, while cheery traditional music played from speakers.
Simultaneously, Li later took an oath, swearing to be loyal to China's constitution and to "work hard to build a prosperous, strong, democratic, civilized, harmonious and great modern socialist country."
At the same session on Saturday, former top prosecutor Zhang Jun was chosen Supreme Court president, and Ying Yong, who was Party Chairman of the Covid-hit Hubei province in the early months of the pandemic, was appointed Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate.
Al Mayadeen correspondent had earlier reported that lawmakers gathered to elect the Premier and Vice-President of the PRC and the members of its Central Military Commission.
Who is Li Qiang?
Li began his career as an irrigation pump station worker near his hometown and ascended quickly through the local government ranks before being promoted to the top role in the wealthy Zhejiang province in 2012.
He was Xi's chief of staff in the early 2000s when the Chinese leader was the Party Chief of Zhejiang. Li was appointed as Shanghai's Party Secretary in 2017.
As premier and chairman of China's cabinet, he will now be in charge of the country's day-to-day operations, as well as macroeconomic policies.
Parliament approves State Council reform plan
The Chinese parliament lately approved a proposal to reorganize institutions under the control of the country's State Council, the highest state executive authority.
China will create a state data department under the National Development and Reform Commission as part of the reform plan.
The organization will be in charge of supporting the establishment of basic data institutions, unified planning for the integration, use, development, and application of information resources, and the planning and establishment of the digital economy and society.
Furthermore, the plan is anticipated to deepen the reform of the local financial regulation mechanism and create a mechanism for local financial supervision and control.
The final reform plan, including information on upcoming changes, will be released later.
