New leadership lineup endorsed

A female delegate poses at a ballot box before casting her vote at a plenary session of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday. The new lineup of China's State Council, nominated by Premier Li Keqiang, was endorsed by lawmakers yesterday afternoon.

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China's new state leadership has taken shape with the president, top legislature, premier, cabinet ministers, senior military leaders and judicial leaders all installed.

The new lineup of China's State Council, nominated by Premier Li Keqiang, was endorsed by lawmakers yesterday afternoon, completing the election and appointment proceedings at the ongoing first session of the 12th National People's Congress.

Lawmakers also endorsed Li's nominations of ministers, governor of the central bank and auditor-general.

Among the newly endorsed ministers, nine are new to their positions, including foreign minister, defense minister, finance minister, minister of supervision, commerce minister, minister of land and resources, as well as ministers in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission, State Ethnic Affairs Commission and the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

Zhou Xiaochuan and Liu Jiayi stayed in their posts as governor of the central bank and auditor-general, respectively.

Cheng Li, director of research at the John L. Thornton China Center of the Brookings Institution, said the formation of a new state leadership concludes a once-a-decade power transfer that was initiated at the CPC national congress held on November.

Sun Xianzhong, an NPC deputy and legal scholar who cast ballots at the session, described the leadership change as "steady and transparent."

Analysts say the new leadership is a team that will take China to a higher level of development.

Because they have grass-roots working experience, "they ... can feel the people's needs," Sun said.

Li said that the new leadership is diverse. They come from different political parties with different academic backgrounds, including some who have overseas education experience.

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