Jiang's son takes top academy post

Jiang Mianheng , a son of former president Jiang Zemin, has been named head of the Shanghai Academy of Sciences in a move analysts said shows the retired leader still has some political clout.

The younger Mr Jiang is already a vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, a post he will retain. The new appointment became effective last week, Shanghai's Wen Hui Bao reported yesterday.

Jiang Mianheng has reinvented himself as a player in the technology industry. He is the co-founder of the Shanghai-based Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing and one of the backers of the original China Netcom.

Political observers are looking towards a Communist Party meeting in October for clues that Jiang Zemin's power is weakening following Hu Jintao's elevation to the presidency in 2003.

There have been persistent rumours that Shanghai party secretary Chen Liangyu , a key Jiang ally, will step down. Jiang Zemin is the main force behind the so-called 'Shanghai faction', national leaders who hailed from the city before rising through the ranks.

Jiang Mianheng was quoted as saying his new job gave him a 'great opportunity' to build a prosperous city through technology.