Top legislature endorse new Cabinet lineup

China's top legislature endorsed the new Cabinet nominated by Premier Wen Jiabao Monday afternoon, approving Li Keqiang, Hui Liangyu, Zhang Dejiang and Wang Qishan as vice-premiers of the State Council.

Nearly 3,000 deputies to the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC) also voted for four State councilors, the secretary-general of the State Council and more than two dozen of ministerial members of the State Council.

The top legislature approved Liu Yandong, Liang Guanglie, Ma Kai, Meng Jianzhu and Dai Bingguo as State councillors.

Ma was also approved as secretary-general of the State Council, while Liang also serves as the Minister of Defence.

New ministers include those to head the five "super-ministries," which constituted part of the country¡¦s latest government reshuffle plan. Li Yizhong was voted to head the Ministry of Industry and Information, Yin Weimin was approved as Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, Zhou Shengxian serves as Minister of Environmental Protection, Jiang Weixing, Minister of Housing and Rrban-rural Construction, and Li Shenglin was approved as Minister of Transport.

Zhou Xiaochuan remains governor of the People's Bank of China, while Liu Jiayi was promoted to the post of the auditor-general of the National Audit Office, replacing Li Jinhua.

The 11th NPC opens on March 5 and is scheduled to conclude on Tuesday.