For new mayor of China’s hi-tech hub, soaring property prices may be first item on agenda
- Former Guangdong vice-governor and oil industry executive Qin Weizhong is expected to be confirmed in the Shenzhen post next month
- Qin’s appointment comes as the central government has stepped up its efforts to curb rampant property speculation
Former vice-governor of the southern Chinese province of Guangdong Qin Weizhong has been named as mayor of Shenzhen, China’s hi-tech hub.
Qin, a former energy industry worker, was likely to focus on curbing the city’s soaring property prices and land shortages, analysts said.
The 49-year-old was appointed to the role in an acting capacity by the standing committee of the Shenzhen People’s Congress on Sunday, the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported. He is expected to be confirmed in the job when the full legislature meets next month, which would make him the city’s youngest ever mayor.
Other reshuffles announced by the committee included the city’s top judge, prosecutor and head of the supervision department.
Before his appointment, Qin, who holds a PhD in chemical engineering from Tsinghua University in Beijing, was responsible for housing, the environment and big data management in Guangdong province. He was a deputy general manager at the China National Petroleum Company before he was appointed vice-governor in 2019.
Qin’s new boss, Shenzhen Communist Party chief, Wang Weizhong, is another alumni of Tsinghua, which is also the alma mater of President Xi Jinping.