BEIJING, March 12. /TASS/. Delegates to the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (parliament) on Sunday approved the new composition of the Chinese State Council (government cabinet), the Xinhua news agency reported.

Ding Xuexiang, He Lifeng, Zhang Guoqing and Liu Guozhong became deputies to the new Premier of the State Council.

National Defense Minister Li Shangfu, Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong, Chairman of Jiangsu People's Congress Wu Zhenglong, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Shen Yiqin (no portfolio) became state councilors.

Only two high-ranking officials out of the 26 heads of ministries, state committees and other departments were appointed to the State Counci: head of the National Development and Reform Commission Zheng Shanjie and National Defense Minister Li Shangfu.

During the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, which kicked off on March 5, Xi Jinping was re-elected as president of People's Republic of China for a third five-year term. The delegates appointed Li Qiang, former Communist Party Secretary of Shanghai, as the new premier of the Chinese State Council.