In rare move, Jilin names Party secretary from minority ethnic group

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Sunday said it had appointed Bayanqolu as secretary of the CPC's Provincial Committee of Jilin province, replacing Wang Rulin.

Bayanqolu, 59, who is of Mongolian ethnic group, was previously governor of Jilin. He is one of only a few minority officials to hold the position of secretary of a provincial Party committee, reported The Beijing News

Jiang Chaoliang, who serves as the chairman of the State-owned Agricultural Bank of China, has been nominated to take Bayanqolu's post as the new Jilin governor.

The Beijing News reported on Sunday that Bayanqolu's appointment represented a break with tradition, and demonstrated the value the government places on officials from minority ethnic groups.

Traditionally, the post of Party chief in autonomous regions is held by a member of the Han ethnic group, according to Wang Yukai, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance.

Bayanqolu was appointed head of the Communist Youth League of China in 1993.

Since 2001, Bayanqolu has served several posts in Zhejiang province including secretary of the CPC Ningbo Committee and vice governor.

His predecessor Wang Rulin will be appointed to a different position, the CPC Central Committee said in a statement, without providing further details.