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Wang Yang takes the helm of China’s top political advisory body

Vice-premier elected chairman of the CPPCC with unanimous support

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Wang Yang casts his vote on the leadership of the CPPCC on Wednesday. Photo: Simon Song

Wang Yang, a vice-premier and member of China’s apex of power, was elected chairman of the country’s political advisory body on Wednesday.

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He received full votes from the 2,144 delegates to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference at the Great Hall of People in Beijing. They also elected 24 vice-chairs and standing committee members for a new five-year term until 2023.

Wang was Guangdong’s party boss from 2007 to 2012 and is credited with putting the province on track to becoming an economic powerhouse through a series of reforms – including Guangzhou becoming the first mainland city to release its budget.

He was also involved in economic talks between China and the United States and headed a government leading group on poverty alleviation.

He was elevated to the ruling Communist Party’s powerful Politburo Standing Committee in October.

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Former party secretary of Zhejiang province Xia Baolong, a vice-chairman of the CPPCC, became its new secretary.

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