The State Council of China, or the central government, recently appointed Shao Mingli as director of the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) and Tian Lipu as director of the State Intellectual Property Office, in replacement of Zheng Xiaoyu and Wang Jingchuan, respectively.

Tian, 52, served as deputy director of the State Intellectual Property Office from March 2003 to June 2005 and assumed his new office in June, 2005.

The government appointed Shao as head of the SFDA on June 22, claiming that it's a regular and necessary shifting of officials.

At the same time, Hong Yi was appointed vice president of the State Administrative College and Song Mi, a female, was removed from the post of vice Chairman of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2005)