China central bank chief left out of key communist committee

BEIJING (REUTERS) - China's central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan is likely a step nearer retirement on Wednesday after his name was left out of a key policymaking group of the ruling Communist Party.

Mr Zhou's name was a notable absence from the list of 205 members of the party's Central Committee, membership of which is a condition of holding a cabinet-ranked job such as central bank chief.

Market speculation about Mr Zhou's tenure at the People's Bank of China intensified at the weekend when he was asked about the issue at a news conference.

Mr Zhou turns 65 in January. That is the mandatory retirement age for a Chinese cabinet minister, although there are cases where people have stayed in post beyond it.

He has been central bank chief since December 2002.