By Zhu Zhe (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-01-01 09:28

Chen Deming, former vice-minister of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), was appointed the country's new minister of commerce at a regular session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee on Saturday.

Chen, born in 1949, replaces 58-year-old Bo Xilai, who became Communist Party chief of Chongqing Municipality on December 1.

Chen, who holds a doctorate in management, spent most of his early career in Jiangsu Province before being appointed vice-governor of Shaanxi Province in 2002. In 2005, he was appointed governor of Shaanxi.

He moved to Beijing last year after being appointed NDRC's vice-minister. In late 2007, he was appointed vice-minister of commerce.

Li Jiaxiang, general manager of China National Aviation Holding Company, was also promoted to executive vice-minister and acting minister of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, the People's Daily said on its website over the weekend.

Another report by Caijing Magazine said Li's predecessor Yang Yuanyuan, who took over the position in 2003, would become a deputy head of the State Administration of Work Safety.

Li, 58, was born in Shandong Province in 1949. He joined the People's Liberation Army in 1969 and stayed with the army until 2000 when he was appointed Communist Party chief of Air China. In 2002, Li became Party chief of China National Aviation Holding Company and in 2004 he was named general manager of the company.