The Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress appointed Ding Xiangyang and Chen Gang as its new vice mayors, China News Service reported today.

Ding, 47, is the former chief of the municipal development and reform commission. He has an innovative spirit and a macro-economy background, along with daring and steadfast ways to handle issues, Beijing Mayor Wang Qishan said when nominating Ding to the congress.

Chen, 40, the former director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Planning, is familiar with the planning of the city and has a strong ability to develop the city, Wang said.

Chen is the second youngest vice mayor in Beijing after 35-year-old Lu Hao.

Both Ding and Chen are postgraduates.

Beijing is short of two vice mayors among its scheduled nine, since Liu Zhihua was sacked in June for corruption and an unethical lifestyle, and Zhang Mao had been promoted to be a vice director of the National Development and Reform Commission.

(Shanghai Daily October 11, 2006)