In&Out: New minister, deputy secretary named

Wang Chen, former publisher of People's Daily - a leading newspaper of China - has been appointed minister of the Information Office of the State Council. He will replace Cai Wu, who was made minister of culture at the first session of the 11th National People's Congress in March.

Wang, 57, a member of the CPC Central Committee, worked at Guangming Daily for 26 years before being appointed deputy head of the Publicity Department of CPC Central Committee in June 2000. In 2001, he was transferred to People's Daily as its editor-in-chief and was promoted to head of the group the following year.

He was a member of the 16th and 17th CPC Central Committees in 2002 and 2007.