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China forms new Cabinet, including 5 'super ministers'
(Xinhua) Updated: 2008-03-17 23:15 In comparison with the previous Cabinet consisting largely of technocrats, most of the 35 new Cabinet members are well-grounded in their specialities including economics, law, political science, agriculture, administration, science and philosophy. At least five of them hold doctoral degrees, including Commerce Minister Chen Deming, Health Minister Chen Zhu, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, minister of agriculture Sun Zhengcai and minister in charge of the State Population and Family Planning Commission Li Bin. Some of the ministers studied overseas: Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi at London School of Economics and Political Science, and Minister of Education Zhou Ji at State University of New York. The two non-Communist ministers, Chen Zhu and Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang, were trained in France and Germany respectively. "Their profound experience will help them stand firm in the process of reform and opening up, remain cool-headed and make practical judgments in complicated situations," said Prof. Li Junpeng. More than 10 ministers were born after New China was founded in 1949 and witnessed the country's impoverished and unrestful past, and the momentous changes in the 30 years of reform and opening up. Many of the new Cabinet members, including Premier Wen Jiabao, had worked as farmers or workers or in other grass-roots posts. "They share similar experiences: they suffered the worst natural calamity in recent decades in the early 1960s, and their avid desire for knowledge was dampened by the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976)," said Wang Ronghua, president of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. Analysts say the coming five years will be a crucial period for China to implement the "Scientific Outlook on Development", and maintain sustained and balanced growth. "The public is watching how the new Cabinet will boost sustainable development by transforming the economic growth pattern, provide basic and secure public services to promote social harmony, and deepen political reforms through administrative restructuring," said Chi Fulin. |
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