State pension fund official tipped to be statistics chief

A former vice-governor of Gansu , who is a senior executive of a state pension fund - is expected to become statistics chief in a reshuffle of central government organs, according to official sources.

Sun Xiaoxi , 55, who was vice-chairman of the National Council for Social Security Fund, would succeed National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) commissioner Xie Fuzhan , who was this week promoted to a senior cabinet job that directly advises Premier Wen Jiabao , the sources said.

Mr Xie has been named director of the State Council Policy Research Office and assumed his new job this week. NBS chief economist Yao Jingyuan yesterday confirmed Mr Xie had left but could not confirm the new appointment. His name was still on the bureau's website.

At an internal meeting with senior officials early this week, Mr Xie announced that his deputy, Lin Xianyu , had been appointed to take over his duties overseeing the bureau's daily management.

However, sources said Mr Sun was tipped to be the most likely candidate to succeed Mr Xie, and the appointment would be announced soon.

But another source with links to the NBS said an outsider would be made commissioner.

The appointment would be a sideways move for Mr Sun, as the statistics agency is a sub-ministry organ, so he would enjoy vice-ministerial status - in a position akin to a vice-governorship or deputy at the ministerial-level social security fund.