In a position that has historically involved exercising considerable control over economic policy for the second-largest economy in the world, Li Qiang has officiall

In a position that has historically involved exercising considerable control over economic policy for the second-largest economy in the world, Li Qiang has officially been appointed as China's next premier.

After being formally nominated for the position by president Xi Jinping earlier in the week, Mr. Li, 63, was elected to the position on Saturday and is now the second most powerful person in China.

Mr. Li received 2,936 votes from the National People's Congress and three votes against him. There were 8 votes against it.

The brutal two-month Covid lockdown in Shanghai last year was put into effect by the new premier, who was formerly in charge of the Communist Party in Shanghai. Following enormous demonstrations, Mr. Li also pushed for the abrupt and disorganized end to the nation's zero-Covid program.

His nomination coincides with an annual political event in which Mr. Xi, who just won an unprecedented third term as president, solidified his undisputed hold on authority and raised the possibility that he would hold that position indefinitely.

Mr. Li succeeds Li Keqiang, who presided over China for ten years. An apparent subliminal criticism of Mr. Xi was made by former Communist Party official Li Keqiang in a goodbye address to his staff: "When people work, heaven watches. Heaven is watchful.

The second-largest economy in the world has not yet recovered from the effects of three years of severe Covid restrictions, and Li Qiang is tasked with doing so.

The premiership has historically had a big impact on economic policy. However, under Mr. Xi's leadership over the past ten years, the position's power has diminished as the president has mostly concentrated power in his own hands.

Several observers think Mr. Li could have an even bigger influence than his predecessor. The government anticipates the economy to grow by "about 5%" this year, which is the lowest forecast in more than three decades, so he will have to deal with an economic slump.

China's important property market is experiencing a historic fall, consumer spending is stagnant, and youth unemployment is still high despite investors' declining confidence.

Mr. Li started his job as a laborer at an irrigation pumping station after completing his studies in agricultural mechanization at a college in the city of Ningbo. He progressed through the provincial bureaucracy and eventually attained leadership positions in the Chinese government.

Between 2004 to 2007, while Mr. Xi was the provincial party secretary of Zhejiang province in eastern China, the incoming premier served as his chief of staff. After Mr. Xi was elected president in 2013, Mr. Li was appointed governor of his home province of Zhejiang in 2012. He subsequently rose to become Jiangsu province's Communist Party chairman before becoming Shanghai's party secretary in 2017.

His track record of being pro-business includes urging Tesla creator Elon Musk to locate the company's first facility outside of the US in Shanghai. The two companies agreed to a contract in 2018, and Tesla became the first fully foreign-owned automaker in China six months later. He is also credited with founding a Shanghai stock exchange in the Nasdaq fashion.

Leadership experts view his nomination as a significant step since Mr. Xi is putting a number of loyalists in positions of authority during the largest government reorganization in decades, which is likely to accelerate his power's consolidation.

Voting took place during a rubber-stamp parliament meeting on Saturday, and the election procedure was conducted in complete secrecy with no reporters permitted in the chamber.

As Mr. Xi cast his vote, lawmakers stood to cheer. Invoking the Chinese constitution and promising to "work diligently to construct a wealthy, robust, democratic, civilized, harmonious, and glorious modern socialist country," Mr. Li took an oath after the vote.

Those who have dealt with Mr. Li describe him as pragmatic, a skilled administrator, and a supporter of the private sector.

On Friday, Zhao Leji was chosen to lead the National People's Congress, China's legislature. Zhao Leji had previously been ranked No. 3 in the party hierarchy in October.

Han Zheng, the former vice-premier, was appointed the country’s vice-president despite having retired from the Communist Party’s Politburo standing committee in October last year.

The rest of the leadership team, including leading roles in the finance ministry and the central bank, will be announced on Sunday.

Li Qiang: Xi Jinping’s right-hand man behind sweeping Covid lockdown elected China’s new premier

0 Comments