BEIJING - The State Council, or China's cabinet, on Saturday announced a number of appointments and removals of government officials.

Wang Yongqing, Shu Xiaoqin and Wang Zhongwei were appointed deputy secretary-generals of the State Council, with Shu also serving as director of the State Bureau for Letters and Calls. Meanwhile, Wang Zhongwei was removed from his post as vice minister of culture.

He Jianzhong was appointed vice minister of transport. Xu Zuyuan no longer holds the position.

Xiang Zhaolun was removed from his post as deputy secretary-general of the State Council and appointed vice minister of culture, replacing Wang Zhongwei.

Wang Guoqiang, Ma Xiaowei, Chen Xiaohong, Wang Pei'an, Liu Qian, Yin Li, Cui Li and Xu Ke were appointed deputy directors of the newly created National Health and Family Planning Commission.

Ma Zhengqi was appointed deputy director of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce. Wang Dongfeng and Teng Jiacai were both removed from the position.

Nie Chenxi, Tian Jin, Wu Shulin, Yan Xiaohong, Sun Shoushan, Li Wei and Tong Gang were appointed deputy directors of the newly created State General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television.

Yin Li, Liu Peizhi, Wang Mingzhu and Teng Jiacai were appointed deputy directors of the China Food and Drug Administration.

Shi Yubo, Liu Qi, Wang Yumin, Zhang Yuqing and Xu Yongsheng were appointed deputy directors of the National Energy Administration.

Chen Lanhua, Fu Xuanyi and Zhu Wangyu were appointed deputy heads of the State Railway Administration.

Chen Xu was appointed permanent representative of China to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), replacing Zhang Jun.

The State Council also removed Qian Xiaoqian from his positions as deputy head of the State Council Information Office and deputy head of the State Internet Information Office.