Cai Wu has replaced Yu Youjun as Party chief of the Ministry of Culture, the official website of the ministry showed yesterday.

In a column listing incumbent leaders, the MOC website (www.ccnt.gov.cn) includes a roll of six with Cai filling both the administrative and Party leadership roles.

Cai Wu [file photo]

The list includes five others but excludes Yu.

The State Council, the Cabinet and central Party organs are yet to officially announce the change.

Cai became the minister and deputy Party chief of MOC during the latest ministerial-leadership reshuffle in March.

Born in 1949, Cai, a native of Wudu county, Gansu province, graduated with an international politics degree from the elite Peking University and also holds a doctorate in law.

He began his career as a lecturer at his alma mater before being transferred to the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Youth League in 1983.

He later served as vice-minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and as minister of the Information Office of the State Council until March.

Before being transferred to MOC last September, Yu was the governor of Shanxi.

While holding that role, the province was hit by the brick kiln labor scandal for which Yu made a public apology.

He survived it though and was transferred to the Ministry of Culture to act as Party secretary and vice-minister, a sign that he would take over the role as minister.

But, during this year's National People's Congress' session in March, he did not get the job.

Born in 1953, Yu had served as head of the publicity department of the Party's Guangdong provincial committee, Shenzhen mayor, vice-governor of Hunan and Shanxi governor.

Yu is among a few senior officials who hold PhD degrees.

(China Daily October 7, 2008)