China’s National People’s Congress endorsed Li Keqiang as the first-ranked vice-premier, the South China Morning Post reported. This makes Li the most likely successor to Premier Wen Jiabao when Wen’s second term expires in five years. Li, a protégé of President Hu Jintao, joined the Standing Committee of the Politburo last October, and formerly worked at the Communist Youth League. Li will assist Wen by taking charge of the management of the cabinet and overseeing China’s economic and financial policies. Other newly minted vice-premiers are former Beijing mayor Wang Qishan and former Guangdong party secretary Zhang Dejiang. Hui Liangyu kept his posting as vice-premier of agriculture.