Regional two sessions show new trends in ministerial postings

Following the conclusion of local two sessions on Saturday, new trends were seen in the reshuffle of provincial-level officials.

A total of 30 provincial-level officials, with an average age of 57.6, took up new posts after local two sessions. These posts include chairman of the standing committee of the provincial people's congress, provincial governor and vice-chairman of the provincial political consultative conferences, reported Nandu Daily.

A new trend has been marked by a growing number of officials transferred to take up other posts after serving at people's congress or political consultative bodies. In the past, posts at these two bodies were staffed by senior officials who were about to retire.

The new pattern helps strengthen the importance of the two bodies and changes the current prevailing mentality that officials at the bodies will retire at a predictable time, said Liu Xutao, a professor with the Chinese Academy of Governance.

Two officials were elected as vice-chairman of the standing committee of the people's congress at a different place from the one they currently serve in. Precedents for the practice are very rare.

Three newly-elected ministry-level officials previously served as consultants of the provincial governments, which marks another feature of the reshuffle.

"When it's the year of leadership transition, the number of leaders in people's congress and political consultative bodies are normally strictly limited. Taking up consultant posts avoids occupying quota of leaders' number but they can still play the role of deputy provincial governors," Liu said.

He noted that as leadership transition does not occur this year and the limit on leaders' number is not so strict, the consultants can transfer to official posts.