The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), or China's top legislature, on Saturday approved a cabinet nomination of Chen Deming, former governor of Shaanxi Province, as the country's new minister of commerce.

Chen, born in 1949, replaces 58-year-old Bo Xilai, who was appointed Communist Party chief of southwestern China's Chongqing municipality on Dec. 1.

Chen, who holds a doctorate in management, spent most of his early career life in eastern China's Jiangsu Province before he was appointed vice governor of Shaanxi Province in 2002. In 2005, he was appointed governor of the province.

He moved to Beijing in 2006 after being appointed vice minister of the State Development and Reform Commission. In late 2007, he was appointed vice commerce minister.

Chen's predecessor Bo Xilai was appointed commerce minister in 2004. He is now also a member of the Political Bureau of the 17th Communist Party of China Central Committee.

(Xinhua News Agency December 29, 2007)