Shao Qiwei, former vice-governor of Southwest China's Yunnan Province, has been appointed by the State Council as director of the China National Tourism Administration.

Shao, whose hometown is Huzhou in East China's Zhejiang Province, was born in 1953.

Since he started working in 1970, Shao has lived in Yunnan. He jointed the Communist Party of China in 1971.

In May, 1998, he became the vice-governor of Yunnan and remained at the post till March.

Xinhua News Agency quoted Shen Yueyue, vice-minister of personnel, as saying that Shao had done a lot of work in promoting tourism in Yunnan, which had gained remarkable results. Shao takes the place of He Guangwei, who had been the director since 1995.

(China Daily April 8, 2005)