Li Liguo (JIANG HONGJING)	Li Xueju (DING LIN)

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, approved on June 25 the appointment of Li Liguo as new Minister of Civil Affairs, replacing Li Xueju.

Li Liguo, 57, had previously served as vice minister of civil affairs since 2003. Before that, he worked in Tibet Autonomous Region for 10 years as secretary general and deputy secretary of the regional committee of the Communist Party of China.

Li Xueju has reached the mandatory retirement age for ministerial officials of 65. He became minister of civil affairs in 2003 after a two-year tenure as vice minister of civil affairs. He has been appointed vice chairman of the Social and Legal Affairs Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body.