(dpa) - China's National People's Congress on Monday endorsed Li Keqiang as a vice premier as the 52-year-old prepares to take charge of the country's financial and economic policy.
Li is seen as the likely successor of Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and is considered, along with Vice President Xi Jinping, as the core of China's new generation of political leaders who are to take the helm in five years.
The two-week annual session of the People's Congress is to end Tuesday with the approval of the budget.
The session has been overshadowed by violent protests in Tibet, but they have not been debated by the 3,000 delegates because China's nominal parliament only approves decisions made by the Communist Party.