China's top legislature on Thursday approved the appointment of Geng Huichang as Minister of State Security to replace Xu Yongyue who is to retire.

After the approval by lawmakers at the 29th session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), President Hu Jintao signed a decree of approval and made it public the same day.

Geng, 56, a native of northern China's Hebei Province, has been the vice minister of state security before the promotion.

An NPC release said Xu, Geng's predecessor, a native of central Henan Province who was born in 1942, had "reached the upper age limit of holding the post".

Xu has been the minister of state security since 1998.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2007)