Think-tank veteran Wang Huning to retain influence despite lack of portfolio
Ex-academic Wang Huning, senior policy aide to past presidents, will help craft foreign policy
At first glance, Wang Huning is the biggest loser as the only Politburo member without a portfolio.
But the former academic will still be an influential figure as director of the Central Policy Research Office, a think tank he has headed for more than a decade.
The former professor of politics and international relations had been rumoured to be in line for a senior job in government, as either a vice-premier or state councillor overseeing China's diplomacy.
In the past 18 years, since he joined the office as head of its politics team, Wang has helped develop many policies for former presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao .
He has also played a major role in crafting China's diplomatic strategy and foreign policy.
Some analysts say Wang has been playing multiple roles, equivalent to a combination of national security adviser, White House chief speech writer and other key advisory roles in the United States.
"He will continue to play such multiple roles from behind the scenes, with his deep academic background in political science and deep understanding of US- and Western-style politics," said Jin Canrong , Wang's former classmate and associate dean of Renmin University's school of international relations.