The chairman of the Guangdong People's Congress, Zhu Senlin, 71, has stepped down citing his age as the reason for retirement, local media said.

The Congress has accepted Mr Zhu's resignation along with that of vice-governor Lu Zhonghe, 61, who also exceeds the retirement age. Mr Lu's portfolio covered education and foreign affairs.

Although he was born in Shanghai, Mr Zhu spent almost his entire career in Guangdong. He was promoted to Guangdong Governor in 1991. Mr Zhu handed over to incumbent Lu Ruihua in 1996 and became the chairman of the province's law-making body. Mr Zhu's successor is tipped to be Zhang Guoying.