How premier’s brother rose to the top of one of China’s most profitable industries

After more than three decades in one of China's most profitable industries, Li Keming, the brother of Premier Li Keqiang, has finally left his role as the deputy director of the powerful state tobacco monopoly.

He has been appointed as one of 28 chairmen of a supervisory body that oversees state-owned enterprises in a promotion that boosts his rank from departmental level to vice-minister level.

The move also avoids a potential conflict of interest and embarrassment to his elder brother Li Keqiang, who is in charge of reforming the health system to bring down medical bills.

Li Keming had been in charge of several departments at the tobacco monopoly, including economic operations, human resources and subsidiaries including China Tobacco International.

The 57-year-old from Dingyuan, Anhui, joined the province's tobacco corporation in 1982. He worked his way up to become head of production with Anhui Tobacco Monopoly Administration in 1994.

He was transferred to Beijing as a production division chief at the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, one year after his brother Li Keqiang was appointed first secretary of the Secretariat of the Communist Youth League of China.