The State Council, China's cabinet, appointed three scientists as deputy presidents of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) here on Monday.

Nuclear physicist Zhan Wenlong, geologist Ding Zhongli and electronics expert Yin Hejun were appointed CAS vice presidents, a statement issued by the State Council said.

Marxism expert Wang Weiguang replaced Leng Rong as vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), according to the statement.

Wang has been deputy head of the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) since 1998.

Chen Yiyu was appointed chairman of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSF) and Wang Jie, Shen Wenqing, Sun Jiaguang, Shen Yan and Yao Jiannian as NNSF vice chairmen.

(Xinhua News Agency January 29, 2008)