With China’s big political reshuffle looming, new No 2 propaganda chief is appointed from party academy

Name: SCMP Explains: How does the Chinese Communist Party operate?
Uploaded: 2022-06-06T07:44:56.000Z
Duration: 6 min 45 s
Description: SCMP Explains: How does the Chinese Communist Party operate?

Li Shulei made an official appearance as executive deputy chief of the party’s propaganda department on Sunday, according to Ministry of Ecology and Environment

Li is seen by many as a rising star who might be further promoted to the 25-strong Politburo at the national congress

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As executive deputy chief of the Communist Party’s propaganda department, Li Shulei will oversee its daily operations. Photo: Handout

Jun Mai

Published: 3:44pm, 6 Jun 2022Updated: 4:32pm, 6 Jun 2022

Li Shulei, the top ranked vice-president in the Communist Party’s academy, has been appointed the No 2 propaganda chief of the party.

Li, 58, attended a Ministry of Ecology and Environment event in Liaoning on Sunday in the capacity of executive deputy chief of the party’s propaganda department, according to a post by the ministry.

The news is the first confirmation of the new role for Li, seen by many as a rising star who might be further promoted to the 25-strong Politburo at the national party congress, a twice-in-a-decade political reshuffle.

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SCMP Explains: How does the Chinese Communist Party operate?

The event, set to take place this autumn, will see a new line-up of Communist Party leadership but President Xi Jinping is expected to stay as its top leader.

In the new role, Li will oversee daily operation of the propaganda department, now headed by Huang Kunming, a member of the Politburo.

The department and its local branches are in charge of supervising the country’s news media, films, radio, television, internet carriers and think tanks.

Li filled the vacancy left by Wang Xiaohui, who was assigned as party chief of Sichuan province in April.

Since 2012, Li has sat on the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, which has more than a hundred officials. Alongside the Central Committee, the CCDI is one of the party’s talent pools and is also considered an important stepping stone for career advancement.