Li Hongzhong was elected governor of central China's Hubei Province, while Luo Qingquan was elected the top provincial lawmaker, at a session of the provincial legislature on Tuesday.

Li, born in August 1956, was elected to the position at the first session of the 11th Hubei Provincial People's Congress.

A native of eastern Shandong province, Li holds a bachelor's degree in history from Jilin University and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in December 1976.

Before this election, Li had served as chief of Shenzhen Municipal Committee of CPC and later acting governor of Hubei.

Luo, born in November 1945, is a native of Hubei. He is now secretary of the Hubei Provincial Committee of the CPC after serving as governor of the province from 2003 to 2007.

(Xinhua News Agency January 30, 2008)