BEIJING, April 7 -- Shao Qiwei, former vice-governor of Southwest China's Yunnan Province, has been appointed by the State Council as director of the China National Tourism Administration.

    Shao, whose hometown is Huzhou in East China's Zhejiang Province, was born in 1953.

    Since he started working in 1970, Shao has lived in Yunnan. He jointed the Communist Party of China in 1971.

    In May, 1998, he became the vice-governor of Yunnan and remained at the post till March.

    Xinhua News Agency quoted Shen Yueyue, vice-minister of personnel, as saying that Shao had done a lot of work in promoting tourism in Yunnan, which had gained remarkable results. Shao takes the place of He Guangwei, who had been the director since 1995.

    Meanwhile, the State Council made a few more personnel changes at several other government bodies.

    Liu Jinguo, Zhang Xinfeng and Liu De were appointed as vice-ministers of public security to replace Tian Qiyu and Zhao Yongji.

    He Xian was appointed vice-minister of personnel, replacing Dai Guangqian. Lu Chunfang were named vice-minister of railways, replacing Wang Zhaocheng.

    Liu Shijin was appointed deputy director of the Development Research Center of the State Council, replacing Lu Zhiqiang.

    Wu Hailong was appointed China's permanent representative to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency, replacing Zhang Yan.

    
(Source: China Daily)