(CFP)

Liu Tienan, former vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China, was appointed the new head of the country's National Energy Administration (NEA) in January, replacing former NEA head Zhang Guobao, also a vice minister of NDRC who retired.

Liu, 56, has worked for the State Planning Commission, the predecessor of today's NDRC, since 1983. He was economic counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Japan from 1996 to 1999. He was appointed vice minister of the NDRC in March 2008.

Liu is familiar with the energy and the macroeconomic fields, and is well-known for his communication abilities from years of experience in dealing with enterprises while working at the NDRC.