OUR Lee Chanpresidential confidant Xi Jinpingwas elected as the new Prime Minister of China.

Li, 63, the former head of the Chinese Communist Party’s local branch in Shanghai, the country’s largest city, will succeed Li Keqiangwho retired after two five-year terms after the completion of the annual work of the National People’s Congress, the Chinese Parliament, the day after Monday.

The president’s staunch ally will be tasked first and foremost with running the world’s second-largest economy.

His image took a hit last spring due to his chaotic management. quarantine in Shanghai. However, it became clear that he was to become China’s new prime minister as early as October, when his name was announced as the second in the Standing Committee of the CPC Politburo at its 20th Congress.

Li Qiang was Xi Jinping’s chief of staff from 2004 to 2007, when the current head of state was still secretary of the provincial CCP branch. Zhejiang (East).

Xi Jinping is putting his people in key positions amid the most significant reshuffling of the government, state and party apparatus in a decade.

The party’s general secretary, head of the military commission and head of state is further consolidating his power after he was elected president on Friday for an unprecedented third term, while politicians considered reformers are sidelined.