NEW INFORMATION OFFICE OFFICIALS APPOINTED IN DECADE'S LARGEST RESHUFFLE

Personnel changes at ministerial-level organizations began immediately after the National People's Congress had approved a new cabinet for the next five years. The central government appointed Wang Chen as the minister for the Information Office of the State Council. He replaces Cai Wu, who was made minister of culture at the Congress meeting last month. Such a personnel change was the largest reshuffle of its kind in a decade, according to an unidentified source quoted in the South China Morning Post.

The appointment of Wang, former publisher of People's Daily, is considered as the most crucial personnel change at the ministerial level. As the director of the Information Office, Wang will be the top government spokesman. His department is also in charge of mainland and foreign media, as well as all kinds of major governmental press briefings.