The close of China’s annual political season – dubbed the “two sessions” – last Tuesday nalised a major reorganisation of the central government that will assist President Xi Jinping in overseeing all aspects of Chinese All the President’s men policy in the next ve years. China Correspondent Lim Yan Liang takes a look at the 16 faces to know.

TOP TIER Wang Qishan, 69, Li Keqiang, 62, Premier Li Zhanshu, 67, chairman Vice-President • A one-time rival to Mr Xi, the of National People’s • The man behind Mr Xi’s former Henan and Liaoning Congress thumping anti-graft campaign party boss who rose up • Mr Xi’s chief of staff and key which has claimed countless through the Communist Youth adviser, the No. 3 in China’s high-pro le scalps – like League (CYL) has seen the leadership hierarchy has been former security chief responsibilities of the a xture at important Zhou Yongkang – Mr Wang’s premiership shrink on his meetings with foreign leaders, appointment as Vice-President watch. An economist by such as at the Xi-Trump will likely reshape a previously training, Mr Li is still nominal summit, and has also served as ceremonial of ce. His head of government and Mr Xi’s personal emissary to experience in xing commerce exerts inuence over economic Russia. A long-time ally of problems, which he accrued policy, but the appointment of Mr Xi, their friendship stretches when he was vice-premier, Mr Wang and top economic back three decades to when means the Xi con dant is likely aide Liu He means he enters the two men were party to play a lead role in managing his second term with less secretaries of neighbouring United States-China relations, direct power over government counties in the industrial affairs. Chinese President especially as the threat of a province of Hebei. trade war looms. Xi Jinping

VICE-PREMIERS

Hu Chunhua, 54, Han Zheng, 63, Sun Chunlan, 67, Liu He, 66, Vice-Premier Executive Vice-Premier Vice-Premier • Once seen as a Vice-Premier • The only woman • The Harvard-educated potential successor to • The former Shanghai occupying a top economist who Mr Xi, Mr Hu’s political party boss is rst among government position, Ms represented China at prospects dimmed after equals on the next rung Sun is a former party Davos last year serves as Mr Xi declined to promote of the leadership, as the boss of the politically Mr Xi’s top economic the former Guangdong only vice-premier who important Tianjin. Ms Sun adviser, and is a close party chief to the elite also sits on the elite heads the Chinese con dant having grown up Politburo Standing seven-man PSC. Trained Communist Party’s (CCP) in the same elite circles in Committee (PSC), the top in economics, Mr Han will United Front Work Beijing. Mr Liu double-hats echelon of political power run the State Council, or Department, the organ in as director of the General in China. But his age and Cabinet, together with charge of spreading the Of ce serving the CCP’s appointment as Mr Li Keqiang. He is also CCP’s inuence abroad, Leading Group for vice-premier means likely to have a diplomatic which includes getting Financial and Economic Mr Hu, a Hu Jintao role, as he was Mr Xi’s Chinese students Affairs, the highest body protege (no relation) who envoy to the Winter overseas to uphold the coordinating China’s also rose up through the Olympics in South Korea. party line and limiting economic matters, putting CYL, may yet be groomed Taiwan’s space on the him at the heart of Mr Xi’s Newly elected Vice-Premiers (from left) Hu Chunhua, Han Zheng, Sun Chunlan and Liu He taking an oath to the for higher of ce. international stage. inner circle. Constitution at the seventh plenary session of the National People's Congress on March 19.

KEY PORTFOLIOS EXPANDED RESPONSIBILITIES

Li Ganjie, 53, Ecological Guo Shuqing, 61, head of China Environment Minister Banking and Insurance An environment protection Regulatory Commission Wang Yi, 64, Foreign Minister • of cial for 18 years, Mr Li • Considered a reform-minded • A seasoned diplomat who has served as ambassador to heads the expanded ministry bureaucrat, the former top banker Japan and headed China’s Taiwan Affairs Of ce, Mr Wang with a mandate now covering and deputy central bank governor not only retained his foreign minister post but was also areas such as air, water and heads the new super agency promoted to state councillor, China’s top diplomatic job. soil protection, which were created through the merger of This is a sign that Beijing is boosting its foreign affairs previously divided among China’s banking and insurance apparatus, once a second-tier of ce, just as perception of different ministries. With regulators. Mr Guo is expected to China as a threat is gaining ground. environment protection now lead a sustained crackdown on risks a political priority, he will in China’s nance sector, such as oversee a ministry with shadow banking and risky expanded powers to investment and lending practices by implement and enforce both banks and insurers. environment protection policies. Lu Hao, 50, Natural Resources Minister • A rising political star, the former Heilongjiang governor who became CYL rst secretary at 41 now heads the ministry that combines agencies previously in charge of land, resources, maritime protection and surveying. Mr Lu will be watched for Yang Xiaodu, 64, Wei Fenghe, 64, Yi Gang, 60, governor Zhao Kezhi, 64, how his new ministry oversees land director of National Defence Minister of the People’s Bank Minister of Public use and urban planning amid greater competition for land, as well Supervision • Among the rst in the of China (PBOC) Security top military brass to as allocation of rights over water Commission • A protege and long-time • A Xi loyalist, China’s new resources, grasslands and forests. • Formerly the Minister declare allegiance to deputy of his predecessor police chief was former Mr Xi when he took of ce for Supervision and Zhou Xiaochuan, China’s party boss in Guizhou and Luo Shugang, 62, Minister of deputy secretary of the in 2012, the former missile rst new central bank Hebei, where he oversaw party’s fearsome force commander has chief in 15 years is a the beginnings of the Culture and Tourism anti-corruption watchdog been instrumental in US-educated economist Xiong’an New Area marked • A senior propaganda of cial, under Mr Wang Qishan, carrying out Mr Xi’s who takes over an to eventually take over Mr Luo was appointed to this Mr Yang heads the new reorganisation of the empowered PBOC that some of the capital’s newly-created ministry that merges super-agency that brings People’s Liberation Army was last week granted functions. Also a state the Ministry of Culture and the the various into a more streamlined more control over laws councillor, Mr Zhao National Tourism Administration at a anti-corruption ghting force. General Wei and regulations for the oversees an extensive time when China sees tourism and departments under one is likely to help Mr Xi banking and insurance state surveillance system culture working in tandem to roof and is charged with deepen military reforms, sectors. The former and has said he will wield enhance its soft power and global investigating both party which includes greater professor takes over at a technology such as big inuence. The ideologue is expected members and civil integration of the various time when the PBOC’s data and facial recognition to strengthen China’s overseas links servants. As its rst services through a higher policies have a growing to crack down on crime. at a time when its soft power is director, he is tasked with training tempo and more impact on the world’s taking on a sharper point. institutionalising China’s combat realistic drills. markets. anti-graft campaigns. PHOTOS: REUTERS, BLOOMBERG, EPA-EFE, XINHUA STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS