Zhao Qizheng, former head of the State Council Information Office, took office Saturday as dean of China's top journalism school.

His inauguration as dean of School of Journalism at People's University coincides the school's 50th founding anniversary.

"It's a heavy task I have taken over," he told a large audience of students and colleagues at the inauguration ceremony. "Our journalists will have to serve the public in China as well as the whole world."

Ji Baocheng, president of the People's University, said Zhao's background and profound knowledge and insight will help upgrade the school's professionalism and status in the international academia.

He said it's good for retired government officials to take posts at universities. "It mirrors social progress."

Zhao, 65, was a nuclear physics major from a top science university and has proven highly competent as an official.

People's University's School of Journalism has trained at least 7,000 journalists over the past five decades.

(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2005)