EXECUTIVE Vice-Premier Mr Zhu Rongji has been given new powers over day-to-day administration of the State Council, according to a Chinese-run newspaper in Hongkong.
The economic czar, who was recently appointed head of the Communist Party's Leading Group on Agriculture, will be responsible for the ''daily operations'' of the State Council, Wen Wei Po reported yesterday.
Two other Vice-Premiers - Mr Zou Jiahua and Mr Qian Qichen - were also given extra responsibilities.
Mr Qian, who is also Foreign Minister, is to head foreign affairs and policies regarding Hongkong, Macau and overseas Chinese, and Mr Zou is to supervise the administration of 17 ministries and bureaus under the State Council.
Quoting authoritative sources in Beijing, the newspaper said Premier Mr Li Peng would ''monitor the overall situation'' of the State Council.
His responsibilities, however, would be limited to supervision, legal affairs, auditing and personnel.
Analysts said Mr Li had apparently surrendered his two major portfolios - economy and foreign affairs - to Mr Zhu and Mr Qian respectively.