The State Council, or China's Cabinet, announced Monday it has appointed new officials for five newly-established "super ministries", including the ministry of human resources and social security and the ministry of environmental protection.

Pan Yue and four others were appointed as vice-ministers of the ministry of environmental protection. Qiu Baoxing and three others were appointed as vice-ministers of housing and urban-rural construction.

Former Head of the State Food and Drug Administration Shao Mingli was appointed vice-minister of health.

Seven officials, including Wang Xudong and Xi Guohua, were appointed vice-ministers of the industry and information.

Ji Yunshi, former director of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, Sun Baoshu, former vice director of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, Li Zhiyong and six others were appointed as vice-ministers of human resources and social security.

Li Jiaxiang and four others were appointed as vice-ministers of transport.

The National People's Congress, the Chinese parliament, adopted a government reshuffle plan at a plenary meeting earlier this month. The plan involves the establishment of five "super ministries".

Zhang Guobao was appointed as director of the national energy bureau.

Meanwhile, the State Council dismissed some of the above officials from their former posts, while some continue to hold other positions concurrently.

In addition, the State Council has appointed Sheng Guangzu as director of the General Administration of Customs, replacing Mou Xinsheng.

It also has appointed Wang Jun as director of the State Administration of Work Safety, Chen Qiufa as director of the national defence science, technology and industry bureau, Yin Weimin as director of the national bureau of civil servants and Li Jiaxiang director of the national civil aviation bureau.

(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2008)