Bo Xilai, former governor of Northeast China's Liaoning Province, has been appointed Minister of Commerce by the plenary session of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress.

Lu Fuyuan has been removed from the commerce minister post for health reasons.

The NPC session, focusing on arrangements for the upcoming meeting due to open on March 5, ended on Sunday.

54-year-old Bo Xilai was elected as vice governor and acting governor of Liaoning Province in January 2001. In February of the same year, he became governor of Liaoning and has held that position since then.

(CRI March 1, 2004)