China appoints senior officials

BEIJING -- The State Council, China's cabinet, has reshuffled its senior government officials.

Lin Huiqing was named vice minister of education, replacing Li Weihong, according to a statement from the council on Thursday.

The cabinet named Wang Shouwen and Qian Keming vice ministers of the Ministry of Commerce and appointed Zhang Xiangchen as the ministry's deputy international trade representative.

Wang Bao'an was relieved from the position of vice minister of finance and renamed as head of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Ma Jiantang was relieved from the position of NBS head and appointed vice president of the Chinese Academy of Governance.

Li Ping was appointed president of Science and Technology Daily, replacing Wang Zhixue.

The State Council also relieved Li Yang from the position of vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.