Tian Chengping replaced Zheng Silin as the minister of labor and social security, China's top legislature decided on Friday.

Tian was former head of the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in north China's coal-rich Shanxi Province.

Born in north China's Hebei Province in January 1945, Tian joined the CPC in 1964 and graduated from Qinghua University with a water supply and drainage degree in 1968.

He was made governor of Qinghai Province during the 1993-1997 period, and chairman of the Standing Committee of Qinghai Provincial People's Congress between 1998 and 1999.

He was appointed head of the CPC Shanxi Provincial Committee in 1999 and Standing Committee chairman of the provincial legislature in 2003.

"He increased investment in resources, which brought advantageous economic effects when he was on the seat of the Qinghai Province leadership," says the material about him provided by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

"He devoted himself to economic restructuring and developing new resources and industry bases when he was at the post of the head of Shanxi Province," the material reads, "and he is the appropriate person for the minister of labor and social security."

Zheng Silin was relieved of duty because he has reached retirement age.

Source: Xinhua