Key leadership changes predicted in economic plans
The reshuffle is part of efforts to boost development in northeast, say observers
The central government plans to shake up several key personnel as it maps out economic development plans for next year, according to mainland observers and media.
Mounting speculation points to leadership changes at key ministries and provinces, including the State Development and Reform Commission (SDRC) and the State Asset Management Commission (SAMC).
It is rumoured that Ma Kai, minister of the SDRC, will become the party secretary of Liaoning province, replacing Wen Shizhen, as part of efforts to boost the economic development of the rust-belt northeastern provinces, which also include Heilongjiang and Jilin.
Some observers expect Li Rongrong, minister of the SAMC, to replace Mr Ma as the new minister of the SDRC. However, state-backed Ta Kung Pao reported yesterday that Mr Li would be appointed the party chief of an unidentified province.
It said that Li Rongrong would be replaced by Li Yizhong, one of his deputies.
The report said the shuffle meant that Mr Ma, 57, and Li Rongrong, 59, would have brighter political careers ahead.
Mainland observers said Mr Ma's appointment, if confirmed, could be part of a grand plan to boost the sluggish economies of the rust-belt provinces.
Since the new leadership under President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao came into power in March they have made several trips to the three provinces, where state firms are in dire straits and jobless rates are among the highest in the country.
Reinvigorating the region has become a priority for the central government. A 60 billion yuan (HK$56 billion) package for industrial upgrades in the northeastern provinces was recently announced.
Some mainland analysts noted that the speculation over personnel changes comes as the central government finalises its economic growth targets for next year.
Intense debate within the leadership has occurred as to whether the mainland economy is overheating. The economy grew 9.1 per cent in the third quarter, bolstered by strong exports and state-spending, prompting officials to predict that economic growth for the year would be 8.5 per cent, much higher than the government's target of 7 per cent.
The SDRC, which is in charge of macro-economic planning, has been criticised for not doing enough to halt massive over-investment in sectors such as car production, steel, property development and the establishment of trade development zones which illegally take over farmland to build factories.
Officials from the SDRC and the SAMC declined to comment.
A Liaoning media office spokesman denied the rumour, saying that Mr Wen, the provincial party secretary, is currently leading a business delegation in Japan.
