China Finance Minister Leaves Post

Aug 30, 09:52 AM

Current Headlines: China's Finance Minister Jin Renqing resigned Thursday and was appointed to a less senior position, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Jin, 63, had been the subject of news reports that he had been shunted aside as part of a corruption investigation, Japan's Kyodo news service said.

The government issued a brief statement indicating Jin had resigned for personal reasons and that it had been accepted by Chinese President Hu Jintao.

The State Council appointed Jin as vice-president of Development Research Center of the State Council, Xinhua said.

His replacement was named as Xie Xuren, 59, former director of the State Administration of Taxation, the report said.