Wang Yang takes the helm of China’s top political advisory body
Vice-premier elected chairman of the CPPCC with unanimous support
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.
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.
Former party secretary of Zhejiang province Xia Baolong, a vice-chairman of the CPPCC, became its new secretary.