Beijing-based newspaper China Business yesterday reported that as the New Year approaches, the year-long senior officials reshuffle carried out by the central government has almost come to an end. The new appointments of ministers and senior officials for several financial and economic ministries will be the final stage of China's new leadership reshuffle.

The report said that Chen Deming had left the post as executive vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission to serve the Ministry of Commerce as vice minister with a concurrent post as secretary of the party group there. According to former practices, Chen is likely to succeed to Bo Xilai, former Minister of Commerce.

From November 29 to December 2, Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Jiangxi, Anhui and Chongqing leadership were all reshuffled. This wave of personnel changes has involved Beijing, Fujian, the Ministry of Commerce as well as the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee.

China Business reported that the administrative changes in the National Development and Reform Commission, the People's Bank of China, the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the China Banking Regulatory Commission are still under way and will soon be revealed. The domestic and foreign business communities are closely watching the on-going changes of senior financial officials because it will greatly impact China's future economic trends and regulations.

"At the recently concluded Central Economic Work Conference, the Chinese authorities have made a re-judgment of the current domestic economic situation, and identified macro-control as their primary task next year in order to prevent the economy from overheating and generating high inflation. Thereafter, a number of senior officials who have in-depth understanding of economics and macro-control measures would be promoted," an unnamed scholar from the Central Party School was quoted as saying in the report.

As the 2008 National People's Congress (NPC) session approaches, the administrative reshuffle of the Chinese government will come to an end. "The personnel changes have been carried out in a very stable manner and those promoted will have great impact on China's future political, economic and social development. Under the umbrella of the scientific outlook on development, it can be predicted that these officials will lead China's economic and social development in a quick and sound way," said Huang Weiding, Deputy Chief Editor of the Red Flag Publishing House.

(China.org.cn by Wang Zhiyong, December 11, 2007)