China took another step toward completing its leadership handover on Monday with the appointment of an official best known for his communist pedigree to head a top government advisory body.
Yu Zhengsheng was selected by a vote of 2,188 to 4 to head the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a companion body to the country’s rubber-stamp legislature. There was no other candidate in the CPPCC vote.
Yu’s selection is the latest step in China’s once-a-decade political transition and kicks off a week of formal government leadership changes that were foreshadowed by promotions at the Communist Party’s congress in November. In China, the party is the pre-eminent political power and top government posts are held by its leaders.
Yu was among seven leaders who ascended to the party’s top inner circle at the November conclave which also anointed Xi Jinping as general secretary. Yu is ranked fourth in the party.