China names new Tibet party chief as Communist Party reshuffles regional leadership

Beijing has appointed a new party chief in Tibet as the Communist Party shuffles regional leaders ahead of its 21st national congress.

Hu Changsheng, 62, will serve as the party secretary of Tibet autonomous region, leaving his post as party secretary of Gansu province to Wu Xiaojun, 60, currently the party chief of Qinghai province.

Meanwhile, Luo Dongchuan, 60, Qinghai’s governor, will succeed Wu as party secretary of the province.

The 21st party congress is expected to be held next year and will shape the leadership line-up for the next five years. Leadership changes at the provincial level ahead of the congress could offer clues about the party’s broader personnel arrangements and political line-up.