China installs Cabinet of experienced bureaucrats

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has assembled a team dominated by experienced bureaucrats in his first Cabinet since formally taking over the State Council on Friday.

Only eight out of the 25 he nominated for ministerial portfolios are new faces, such as Mr Wang Yi, Mr Chang Wanquan and Mr Lou Jiwei for foreign, defence, and finance ministries.

Mr Li's executive vice-premier is set to be seventh-ranked Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) member Zhang Gaoli, followed by vice-premiers in current State Councillor Liu Yandong, ex-Guangdong party boss Wang Yang, and outgoing State Council secretary-general Ma Kai.

The five proposed State Councillors are Mr Guo Shengkun (concurrent Public Security Minister); Mr Chang Wanquan (likely new defence minister); Mr Yang Jing (new State Council secretary-general); Mr Wang Yong, likely to oversee culture; and Mr Yang Jiechi, to oversee foreign policy. Central bank chief Zhou Xiaochuan will continue a third term while the National Development and Reform Commission will be led by Mr Xu Shaoshi.