He Lifeng

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng has assumed a new post as the director of the Office of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs, a top financial and economic policymaking body, a report by the Xinhua News Agency showed. He was referred to as a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee as well as the aforementioned title.

According to the report, He met with the French President's Diplomatic Counselor Emmanuel Bonne in Beijing on Sunday, and the two sides had practical and constructive exchanges on the implementation of the outcomes of the ninth China-France High-Level Economic and Financial Dialogue.

Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France. China is ready to take this opportunity with France to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and push for more tangible results in bilateral economic and trade cooperation, He was quoted as saying in the report.

In addition to the content of the meeting, the report also indicated He's new position as the head of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs. The top position was previously held by Liu He. 

The Office of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs is responsible for the top design, overall layout, coordination, facilitation and implementation of major work in the financial and economic areas, according to an institutional reform plan released in March 2018. The reform in 2018 transformed the Office of the Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs to the current iteration.

To date, the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs under the 20th CPC Central Committee has held two meetings, on May 5 and July 20, according to public information.  

He was born in South China's Guangdong Province in 1955, and he joined the CPC in 1981. He graduated from Xiamen University, majoring in finance, and he has obtained a PhD degree in economics.  

He has served as the Chinese lead person of the China-France High Level Economic and Financial Dialogue. In July, He co-chaired the dialogue with Minister of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty of France Bruno Le Maire, who was the French lead person of the dialogue. 

He is also the Chinese lead person for economic and trade affairs with the US as well as the China-EU High-level Economic and Trade Dialogue, according to another Xinhua News Agency report. 

In July, He met with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and the two sides had in-depth, candid and practical exchanges on the economic and financial situation of the two countries and the world as well as on working together to address common global challenges.

The appointment of more Chinese top financial officials was announced in recent days. At the just-concluded sixth session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in October, China's top legislature, Lan Fo'an was appointed as the new Finance Minister, replacing Liu Kun, according to a Xinhua News Agency report.

In September, Lan was appointed as the Party chief of the ministry. Before his new position, Lan was the Party chief of North China's Shanxi Province. 

Global Times