Party approves new leaders ahead of NPC

China’s ruling Communist Party approved government reform plans and new appointments to party leadership positions at a high-level meeting Wednesday, ahead of the March 5 National People’s Congress (NPC), AFP reported. Though no details of the meeting were released, it is believed that Shanghai Party Secretary Xi Jinping was named vice president and Liaoning party boss Li Keqiang was appointed to a vice premiership. Beijing Mayor Wang Qishan is expected to be named vice premier in charge of finance. Xi is seen as next in line to replace Hu Jintao as president and party chairman at the end of his second five-year term in 2013, while Li is seen as Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s likely successor. The NPC must approve all appointments from the meeting. A reform of the State Council is also anticipated, with the total number of ministries in China’s cabinet being trimmed to 21.