Reporters' Diary

BEIJING -- The following is a brief introduction to the 25 ministers, central bank governor and auditor-general of the State Council, China's Cabinet, who were appointed at the annual session of the 11th National People's Congress, the top legislature, on Monday, March 17, 1008:

1. Minister of foreign affairs

Yang Jiechi, male, ethnic Han, born in May 1950, native of Shanghai, holds doctorate in history. Had been assistant to minister of foreign affairs, vice minister of foreign affairs, ambassador to the United States. Minister of foreign affairs since April 2007.

2. Minister of national defense

Liang Guanglie, male, ethnic Han, born in December 1940, native of Santai, Sichuan Province, with on-the-job junior college education. Holds the military rank as general. Had been deputy commander of Beijing Military Area Command, commander of Shenyang, Nanjing Military Area Commands, chief of staff of People's Liberation Army (PLA), secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee of the PLA General Staff. Member of the CPC Central Military Commission and the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China (PRC), State Councilor, member of the Leading Party Members' Group of the State Council.

3. Minister in charge of the national development and reform commission

Zhang Ping, male, ethnic Han, born in January 1946, native of Xiaoxian County, Anhui Province, with technical secondary school education. Had been vice governor of Anhui, deputy secretary of the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee, vice minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Appointed deputy secretary-general of the State Council in December 2005.

4. Minister of education

Zhou Ji, male, ethnic Han, born in August 1946, native of Shanghai. with a doctoral degree, professor, academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering. Had been president of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, deputy secretary of the CPC Wuhan Municipal Committee, vice mayor and mayor of Wuhan, vice minister of education, deputy secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of the Ministry of Education. Minister of education and secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of the ministry since 2003.

5. Minister of science and technology

Wan Gang, male, ethnic Han, born in August 1952, native of Shanghai, holds Ph. D degree in mechanical engineering, professor. Had been president of Tongji University, vice chairman of China Zhi Gong Party Central Committee. Minister of science and technology since April 2007, chairman of China Zhi Gong Party Central Committee since December 2007. Elected vice-chairman of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in March 2008.

6. Minister of industry and information

Li Yizhong, male, ethnic Han, born in March 1945, native of Datong, Shanxi Province, with university education, professor-level senior engineer. Had been general manager and secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of the China Petrochemical Corporation, board chairman of China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation, secretary of the CPC committee of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, vice chairman of the commission. Became director and secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of the State Administration of Work Safety in February 2005.

7. Minister in charge of the state ethnic affairs commission

Yang Jing, male, ethnic Mongolian, born in December 1953, native of Jungar Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with postgraduate education. Became deputy secretary of the CPC committee of Inner Mongolia and acting chairman of the Inner Mongolia autonomous regional government in April 2003. Elected governor of the Inner Mongolia regional government in January 2004.

8. Minister of public security

Meng Jianzhu, male, ethnic Han, born in July 1947, native of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, holds master's degree in mechanical engineering, senior economic administrator. Had been vice mayor of Shanghai, deputy secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, secretary of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee. Minister of public security and secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of the ministry since 2007. State Councilor, member of the Leading Party Members' Group of the State Council, minister of public security and secretary of the CPC committee of the ministry since 2008.

9. Minister of state security

Geng Huichang, male, ethnic Han, born in November 1951, native of Hebei Province, with university education. Had been vice minister of state security, member of the CPC committee and deputy secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of the ministry. Minister of state security and secretary of the CPC committee of the ministry since August 2007.

10. Minister of supervision

Ma Wen, female, ethnic Han, a native of Wuqiao, Hebei Province. Born in July 1948, with a university education. Had served as secretary of the CPC committee of the Organs of Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and Ministry of Supervision. Deputy secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC since January 2004, minister of supervision since August 2007, and concurrently director of the National Bureau of Corruption Prevention and director of Correcting Industrial Illegitimate Practice Office of the State Council since September 2007.

11. Minister of civil affairs

Li Xueju, male, ethnic Han, a native of Gongzhuling, Jilin Province. Born in April 1945, with a post-graduate education. Worked as deputy secretary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee from 1998 to July 2001. Became vice minister of civil affairs in July 2001. Minister of civil affairs and secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of the ministry since March 2003.

12. Minister of justice

Wu Aiying, female, ethnic Han, a native of Changle, Shandong Province. Born in December 1951, with a post-graduate education. Worked successively as vice provincial governor of Shandong, vice secretary of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee, vice minister of justice and vice secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of the ministry. Minister of justice and concurrently secretary of the ministry's Leading Party Members' Group since June 2005.

13. Minister of finance

Xie Xuren, male, ethnic Han, a native of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. Born in October 1947, with junior college education. Senior economist. Worked successively as vice minister of finance, president of the Agricultural Development Bank of China, vice secretary of the Financial Working Commission of the CPC Central Committee, vice director of the State Economic and Trade Commission, and director of the State Administration of Taxation and secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group. Minister of finance and concurrently secretary of the ministry's Leading Party Members' Group since August 2007.

14. Minister of human resources and social security

Yin Weimin, male, ethnic Han, native of Lingshou, Hebei Province. Born in January 1953, with postgraduate education, master's degree in economics. Worked as vice minister of personnel and vice secretary of the ministry's Leading Party Members' Group before becoming minister of personnel in August 2007 and concurrently secretary of the ministry's Leading Party Members' Group and vice head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee.

15. Minister of land and resources

Xu Shaoshi, male, ethnic Han, a native of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. Born in October 1951, with a master's degree in economics. Became vice secretary general of the State Council and member of the CPC committee of the Organs of the State Council in December 2000. Minister of land and resources, secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and chief supervisor of state lands since April 2007.

16. Minister of environmental protection

Zhou Shengxian, male, ethnic Han, a native of Wuzhong, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Born in December 1949, with a post-graduate education, senior economist. Worked successively as vice chairman of the Ningxia autonomous regional government, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Ningxia Autonomous Regional Committee, executive vice chairman of the regional government, deputy director of the State Forestry Administration, vice secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group, director of the State Forestry Administration, secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group. Head of the State Environmental Protection Administration since December 2005 and concurrently secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group.

17. Minister of housing and urban-rural construction

Jiang Weixin, male, ethnic Han, a native of Fuyu County, Heilongjiang Province. Born in January 1949, with a university education. Worked successively as vice minister in charge of the National Development and Planning Commission and member of its Leading Party Members' Group, vice minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission and member of its Leading Party Members' Group, vice minister of construction and secretary of the ministry's Leading Party Members' Group.

18. Minister of transport

Li Shenglin, male, ethnic Han, a native of Nantong, Jiangsu Province. Born in 1946. Worked successively as vice mayor of Tianjin Municipality, vice secretary of the CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee, executive vice mayor of Tianjin, vice secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of Tianjin Municipal Government, mayor of Tianjin, secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of Tianjin Municipal Government , vice secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of the State Economic and Trade Commission, vice director of the commission, vice director of the National Development and Reform Commission and vice secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group. Became minister of communications and secretary of the ministry's Leading Party Members' Group in December 2005.

19. Minister of railways

Liu Zhijun, male, ethnic Han, born in 1953, native of E'zhou, Hubei Province, with postgraduate education, engineer. Had been director of Shenyang railway bureau, chief coordinator and vice-minister of railways. Minister of railways and secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of the ministry since March 2003.

20. Minister of water resources

Chen Lei, male, ethnic Han, born in 1954, native of Beijing, postgraduate education, master of engineering. Vice minister of water resources, member of the State Council Three Gorges Project Construction Committee, vice chairman of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Government, Standing Committee member of the CPC Xinjiang Regional Committee, executive vice chairman of the regional government. Minister of water resources and secretary of the ministry's Leading Party Members' Group since April 2007.

21. Minister of agriculture

Sun Zhengcai, male, ethnic Han, born in September 1963, native of Rongcheng in Shandong Province, doctorate in agricultural science, researcher. Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee in May 2002. Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and secretary-general of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee in November 2002. Minister of Agriculture and secretary of the ministry's Leading Party Members' Group since December 2006.

22. Minister of commerce

Chen Deming, male, ethnic Han, born in March 1949, native of Shanghai, doctor of management. Mayor of Suzhou in Jiangsu Province and secretary of the CPC Suzhou City Committee, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee. Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, and vice governor of Shaanxi Province. Deputy secretary of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, acting governor and governor of Shaanxi Province. Vice minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission and deputy secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group. Secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of the Commerce Ministry, vice minister and minister.

23. Minister of culture

Cai Wu, male, ethnic Han, born in October 1949, native of Gansu Province, doctor of law. Deputy head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee. Deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. Director of the International Communication Office of the CPC Central Committee. Director in charge of the State Council Information Office.

24. Minister of health

Chen Zhu, male, ethnic Han, born in August 1953, native of Zhenjiang in Jiangsu Province, doctorate in science. Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Became vice president of the CAS in October 2000. Minister of Health since June 2007.

25. Minister in charge of state population and family planning commission

Li Bin, female, ethnic Han, born in October 1954, native of Fushun in Liaoning Province, doctorate in economics, researcher. Vice governor of Jilin Province, and member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jilin Provincial Committee. Secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of the State Population and Family Planning Commission since August 2007, and vice minister in charge of the commission.

26. Governor of the People's Bank of China

Zhou Xiaochuan, male, ethnic Han, born in January 1948, native of Yixing in Jiangsu Province, doctor's degree. Assistant to minister of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade. Vice president of the Bank of China. Director of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. President of the China Construction Bank. Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission. Became governor of the People's Bank of China and secretary of the CPC committee of the bank in December 2002.

27. Auditor-general of the National Audit Office

Liu Jiayi, male, ethnic Han, born in August 1956, native of Chongqing Municipality, postgraduate education, senior auditor. Vice auditor-general of the National Audit Office in November 1996. Became secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of the National Audit Office, vice auditor-general in July 2007.

• A tour of Stockholm
• Farmers' income to be doubled
• China: A Role Model to All Nations

• A tour of Stockholm
• Farmers' income to be doubled
• China: A Role Model to All Nations
• Rates cut expedient, but not enough
• More rate cuts needed to fortify economy
• Farmers' income to be doubled
• China: A Role Model to All Nations

• 典型代表 Poster child
• 試點計劃 pilot program
• 基層社區 grassroots community

• A tour of Stockholm
• Farmers' income to be doubled
• China: A Role Model to All Nations
• Rates cut expedient, but not enough
• More rate cuts needed to fortify economy
• more

Commentary

From Foreign Press

Letters