BEIJING, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The State Council, China's Cabinet, on Thursday announced the appointment of several new officials.

Liu Jianchao and Qian Hongshan were appointed assistant foreign ministers and Zhang Xiwu was appointed deputy head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.

Li Meng was appointed vice minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, replacing Chen Xiaoya; He Zhimin and Liao Tao were appointed deputy directors of the State Intellectual Property Office, replacing Li Yuguang and Bao Hong; Yu Yongshui and Chen Jianming were appointed deputy directors of the National Government Offices Administration, replacing Gao Xiang and Jian Baowei.

Chen Fengxue and Liu Dongsheng were appointed deputy directors of the State Forestry Administration. Yin Hong will no longer hold this post.

Li Hong will replace Zhang Yue as permanent representative of China to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific; Liu Xianfa was appointed permanent representative to the UNEP and permanent representative to the UN-Habitat, replacing Liu Guangyuan; Zhang Xiuqin was appointed permanent representative of China to UNESCO, replacing You Shaozhong.

The State Council also appointed Guo Dongming as president of the Dalian University of Technology, replacing Shen Changyu.