Appointment shows desire for more effective communication

Appointing Ning Jizhe, a well-known government think-tank economist, to be the new head of National Bureau of Statistics is a welcome move.

The 60 year-old Ning has a PhD in economics from Renmin University of China and has been one of the deputy chiefs of the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planning body, since August 2015.

He will hold the two positions concurrently.