BEIJING (AP) 鈥� China on Saturday named , a close confidant of , as the country鈥檚 next premier nominally in charge of the world鈥檚 second-largest economy now facing some of its worst prospects in years.
Li was nominated by Xi and appointed to the position with no dissenting voices at Saturday morning鈥檚 session of the National People鈥檚 Congress, China鈥檚 ceremonial parliament. That came a day after Xi, 69, secured a norms-breaking third five-year term as state leader, setting him up to possibly rule for life.
Li is best known for having enforced a brutal 鈥渮ero-COVID鈥� last spring as party boss of the Chinese financial hub, proving his loyalty to Xi in the face of complaints from residents over their lack of access to food, medical care and basic services.
Li, 63, a relatively wealthy southeastern province now known as a technology and manufacturing powerhouse.
Prior to the pandemic, Li built up a reputation in Shanghai and Zhejiang before that as friendly to private industry, even as Xi enforced tighter political controls and anti-COVID curbs, as well as
As premier, Li will be charged with reviving a sluggish economy still emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic and confronted with weak global demand for exports, lingering U.S. tariff hikes, a shrinking workforce and an
He takes on the job as authority of the premier and the State Council, China's Cabinet, has been steadily eroding as Xi shifts more powers to bodies directly under the ruling Communist Party.
The Associated Press
