Li Qiang appointed as China’s new prime minister

Li Qiang was appointed China's new prime minister Saturday at the 14th National People's Congress. 

Nominated by President Xi Jinping, Li, the former Communist Party chief of Shanghai, received the votes from 2,936 delegates, 3 against and 8 abstentions.

Li, 63, will replace Li Keqiang who served two terms -- 10 years.

At a meeting of the country's parliament, Li Qiang received 2,936 votes in favour, with three votes against and eight abstentions, according to figures projected on a screen inside the Great Hall of the People.

A career bureaucrat, Li was revealed as the pick for China's No 2 job at a major party congress in October when Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled a leadership lineup stacked with loyalists.

Widely perceived to be pragmatic and business-friendly, Li faces the daunting task of shoring up China's uneven economic recovery after three years of COVID-19 curbs, weak confidence among consumers and the private sector, as well as global headwinds.

He takes office amid rising tensions with the West, including US moves to block China's access to key technologies and as many global companies diversify supply chains to hedge their China exposure, given political risks and the disruptions of the COVID-19 era.

China's economy grew just 3 per cent last year, and on the opening day of parliament, Beijing set a modest 2023 growth target of around 5 per cent, its lowest goal in nearly three decades. _Agencies