China appoints respected economist to target graft

China appointed a respected economist to head its anti-graft drive as it sought to stress its resolve in fighting the rampant corruption identified as one of the biggest challenges for the Communist Party.

Wang Qishan, China’s top finance official, will head the party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the state-run Xinhua news agency said, as the party’s five-yearly congress came to a close in Beijing.

Wang is best known for representing China in key economic talks with the United States and European Union.

The congress also approved an amendment to the party constitution to include a call for “attaching greater importance to conducting oversight of cadres”, Xinhua said.

During the congress, delegates selected a roughly 200-strong new party Central Committee and made other appointments to key party bodies such as the disciplinary commission, which is tasked with keeping officials in line.

Wang also looks poised to take a seat on China’s top decision-making body, the Politburo Standing Committee, which now has nine members and is set to be unveiled in Beijing tomorrow.