Meet Han Zheng, the man just appointed China’s new vice-president
- Analysts say vice-presidency will remain a nominal role, as was case with predecessor Wang Qishan
- Duties largely confined to representing country at ceremonies and events overseas and receiving foreign guests
Han Zheng, formerly China’s top-ranked vice-premier, has been appointed the country’s vice-president, giving the 68-year-old a role on the political stage following his retirement from the Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee in October.
Han’s appointment was passed by a unanimous 2,952 votes from the national legislature on Friday.
“When there are foreign events that Xi [Jinping] does not like to attend himself, the vice-president can be his envoy,” said Alfred Wu, an associate professor at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
“It was just like when Wang Qishan attended the queen’s funeral last year.”
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Following the announcement of the unanimous vote, Han rose from his seat in the Great Hall of the People and went to shake hands with Xi and Wang.
