Former Shanxi Governor Yu Youjun was appointed  vice minister of culture by the State Council.

Yu also takes the post of the Communist Party of China (CPC) chief in the ministry from the incumbent minister Sun Jiazheng, according to the official website of the Ministry of Culture (MOC).

Born in 1953, Yu had served as head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Shenzhen mayor, deputy Hunan governor and Shanxi governor. Yu is among a few ranking officials who hold doctoral degrees.

Sun, 63, has taken the post of Minister of Culture and its Party chief since 1998. Chinese cabinet members usually retire at the age of 65.

The State Council also appointed Ma Wen as head of the national bureau on corruption prevention, and Qu Wanxiang as her deputy. Tang Jun was appointed vice minister of Personnel.

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2007)