Anhui party chief to be named mayor of Beijing
The Communist Party chief of Anhui province , a protege of President Hu Jintao, is to take over as mayor of Beijing as the capital prepares to host next year's Olympic Games.
Guo Jinlong , 60, has been appointed deputy secretary of the Communist Party's Beijing municipal committee, a statement on the central government's website said yesterday, confirming a South China Morning Post report.
Mr Guo was the only candidate to replace Wang Qishan , who has resigned as mayor, the statement said, indicating the appointment is a foregone conclusion.
Mr Guo has been appointed vice-mayor and acting mayor of Beijing by the standing committee of the municipal people's congress.
The change in the leadership of the capital's government is part of a sweeping reshuffle of key provincial and ministry posts following a major reshuffle of top political posts in October at the party's 17th National Congress.
Mr Guo is seen as being close to Mr Hu, although he does not have a background in the Communist Youth League, the president's power base. He won the president's trust with his performance as the leading party official in Tibet from 1993 to 2004. Mr Hu was Tibet party chief from 1988 to 1992.
Sources said Mr Guo would be in position to take over from Liu Qi as Beijing party chief in the future, most likely after the Olympic Games. The post of Beijing party chief is one of most powerful jobs in mainland politics.
The formal appointment of the city's new mayor will be made in the new year when the municipal legislature holds its full session.
Mr Wang, who was elevated to the powerful Politburo at the party congress, is expected to be named a vice-premier. He had run the city since 2003, when his predecessor was sacked for mishandling the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic.
The central leadership has attached great significance to the appointment of the capital's mayor, particularly as preparations for the Olympics are in their final stages. The leadership sees a successful staging of the Games as a symbol of enormous national pride and prestige.
The municipal government still faces severe challenges in dealing with problems such as traffic jams, pollution and protesters under an intense international spotlight as the Games draw closer.
In another related development, Su Rong, the former party chief of the northwestern province of Gansu , has replaced Meng Jianzhu as party boss of the east coast hinterland province of Jiangxi , the party's Central Committee said in a separate statement.
Mr Meng was approved as the country's new minister of public security by the National People's Congress Standing Committee in late October.
Chen Deming , a deputy minister of the National Development and Reform Commission and a rising technocrat, was appointed the new minister of commerce. Mr Chen, 58, has replaced Bo Xilai , who also ascended to the Politburo at the party congress and will soon be named the new party secretary of Chongqing .
Sources familiar with the ministry said Mr Chen began work at the ministry after an announcement was made at a meeting of leading cadres at the ministry on Wednesday. However, the official announcement would only be made when the NPC Standing Committee approved the appointment.
Mr Chen, a commission vice-chairman since May last year, was in charge of energy policy, capital investment and overall planning.
Mr Bo is reportedly in Chongqing and his appointment is expected to be announced soon.
