China's top legislature on Thursday appointed Zhang Qingwei as minister in charge of the State Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND).

President Hu Jintao signed a presidential decree to approve the decision.

Zhang Qingwei replaces Zhang Yunchuan, who will take up another post.

Zhang Qingwei, who has a master degree of engineering, was born in November 1961 in Laoting, north China's Hebei Province.

From September 1978 to August 1982, Zhang studied at the Northwestern Polytechnical University and majored in aircraft designing.

Zhang became senior engineer and chief designer at the Ministry of Space Industry in March 1988.

From October 1992, he acted as the deputy chief-designer of carrier rocket for project 921 at the China Aerospace Industry Corporation.

From August 1996, he was the vice head of the first institute of China Aerospace Industry Corporation and vice general manager of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp (CASIC).

From November 2001, Zhang acted as CASIC's general manager and party chief.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2007)