In a significant leadership change ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November, Shenzhen has appointed a new mayor. The recent reshuffling of local government leaders in major Chinese cities has drawn attention as the country prepares for the 21st National Congress of the Communist Party next year.
On August 24, the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen People's Congress announced the appointment of Li Yun, 53, as the city's deputy mayor and acting mayor. He replaces Chen Weizhong, 55, who stepped down from the mayoral position citing a 'change in job responsibilities.'
Born in 1973, Li Yun is a finance expert with a master's degree in monetary banking and a doctorate in global economics from Wuhan University. He has extensive experience in the banking sector, having served as the branch manager of the Agricultural Bank of China in Guizhou Province and as vice president of China Construction Bank in 2021. Last year, he was appointed as the vice governor of Guangdong Province, overseeing financial matters.
Li will work alongside Jin Lei, 56, who was appointed as the party secretary of Shenzhen in March. Jin is also known for his background in economics and finance.
Hong Yaonan, deputy director of the China Mainland Research Center at Taiwan's Dandai University, noted in the Singapore United Daily that the financial backgrounds of both Jin and Li reflect Shenzhen's role as a leader in reform.
Shenzhen, located near Hong Kong, is a key economic city in China and a global hub for high-tech innovation. The timing of this leadership change is particularly noteworthy as the APEC summit approaches.
Chen Weizhong, who served as mayor for five years, has been under scrutiny since he was excluded from the selection for Shenzhen's party secretary in March. Speculation suggests he may step back from frontline economic administration and take a position as deputy director of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress.
In addition to Shenzhen, other major Chinese cities are also appointing leaders with experience in economic and industrial sectors to key party and government positions.
On August 23, Xin Weiguo, 56, was appointed as the party secretary of Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province, which has rapidly emerged as a hub for high-tech venture investment. His background in state-owned enterprises and local government aligns with Hefei's focus on industrial investment and regional economic development.
On August 24, Zheng Li, 57, was appointed as the party secretary of Guiyang, having previously served as the head of the Party Committee of Sichuan Province. Zheng has spent 35 years in Sichuan, particularly in the Chengdu High-tech Industrial Development Zone, where he was responsible for attracting foreign investment.
Hong Yaonan remarked that the recent adjustments in high-ranking local officials in China are part of a broader strategy for personnel placement ahead of the 21st Party Congress, highlighting a generational shift as younger officials are promoted to key positions.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.