China's top legislature on Friday approved the cabinet nomination of Yang Jiechi, former ambassador to the United States, as the country's new foreign minister.

Yang Jiechi

Yang, 57, replaces Li Zhaoxing, 66, who has served as China's top diplomat since 2003.

China's minister-level officials usually retire at the age of 65. Li, was born in October 1940, a document provided to the lawmakers said.

A veteran diplomat, Yang served in the Chinese embassy in the United States for nearly 13 years over different periods in the 1980s, 1990s and the beginning of this century.

Yang started his diplomatic career in 1975 in the Foreign Ministry and was appointed vice foreign minister in 1998.

While serving as ambassador to the United States from 2001 to 2005, Yang won acclaim for his efforts to promote China-U.S. cooperation and exchanges in fighting terrorism, trade and the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

During his term in Washington, he was also said to be able to tread a fine line in both firmly defending China's national interests and maintaining smooth and stable ties with the United States.

Back in Beijing, Yang was vice foreign minister mainly in charge of diplomacy in the Latin American region and foreign-related affairs involving Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

In the introduction provided to the lawmakers, Yang was described as "down to earth", "dedicated", "prudent" and a man with a "high sense of responsibility".

A fluent English speaker, Yang studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science from 1973 to 1975.

He is also an alternate member of the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Only non-Communist minister

Also on Friday, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) approved the nomination of Wan Gang, president of Shanghai's Tongji University, as minister of science and technology, replacing Xu Guanhua.

Xu Shaoshi replaces Sun Wensheng as head of the Ministry of Land and Resources. Chen Lei was appointed minister of water resources, replacing Wang Shucheng.

Wan Gang, a member of the China Zhi Gong (Public Interest) Party, replaces 65-year-old Xu Guanhua, becoming the only current non-Communist party minister in China's State Council.
 
This is a notable move in China's political arena after top leader Hu Jintao urged the country's other political parties to play an active role in pushing the reform and opening-up drive.

In the 1950s, a number of non-Communist members were appointed ministers in the country's cabinet but they were soon dismissed during the "anti-rightist" movement.

Wan is vice chairman of the Central Committee of the Zhi Gong Party, a non-Communist political party with more than 15,600 members.

Founded in 1925, the China Zhi Gong Party is mainly composed of returned overseas Chinese, relatives of overseas Chinese, and noted figures and scholars who have overseas ties.

There are eight non-Communist parties (or "democratic parties") in China. They all admit the governance of the Communist Party of China.

A former automobile engineer at the Audi Corporation in Germany, Wan, born in Shanghai in August 1952, was president of Shanghai's Tongji University before his new appointment.

Editor: Yan