The Communist Party of China (CPC) announced on Tuesday a reshuffle of leadership of provincial-level authorities in the early half of 2008, which will cut the number of posts.

The twice-a-decade reshuffle will involve positions in legislatures, governments and political advisory bodies of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities and some major cities, according to a statement from the CPC Central Committee.

The reshuffle will be an opportunity to "further reform leadership lineups", according to the statement, which says one of the priorities is to "cut the number of official posts".

Next year's reshuffle would see an "increasing number of officials holding concurrent Party and government posts", the statement said.

The statement also stressed that the retirement age limit of officials be observed, but offered no detailed information.

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2007)