New China premier to hold rare press conference

BEIJING (AFP) - China's new Premier Li Keqiang steps into the media spotlight on Sunday for a rare press conference, as the annual meeting of the country's rubber-stamp parliament closes.

Mr Li took control of the day to day running of China's government on Friday, a day after Mr Xi Jinping was handed the title of President, completing China's once-in-a-decade transition of its two top leaders.

The press conference will be a rare chance for foreign media to scrutinise Mr Li, as high-ranking Chinese politicians normally maintain strict secrecy and rarely give interviews to non-official media.

The event will be closely watched for any indications of which economic reforms Mr Li may seek to promote, as well as for declarations of action on official corruption and vows on political reform.