China's Hu to name ally Sichuan party boss-sources

BEIJING, Oct 22 (Reuters) Chinese President Hu Jintao is tipped to name a political ally as Communist Party boss of the southwestern province of Sichuan as part of a reshuffle to further consolidate power, two sources with knowledge of the planned appointment said today.

Agriculture Minister Du Qinglin, 59, is expected to be named Sichuan party boss, said the sources who requested anonymity to avoid repercussions as they are not empowered to speak to foreign media about planned personnel changes.

State media have yet to announce Du's appointment, part of a reshuffle of provincial leaders ahead of the 17th Party Congress next year when Hu is expected to retire more political allies of his predecessor Jiang Zemin and put his own men in key positions.

Du would replace Zhang Xuezhong, 63, who has held that post since December 2002 and was recuperating in Beijing from heart problems, the sources said.

It was unclear if Zhang would be given a new post in the future.

Du would be the fourth Hu ally to be given a new job with a rank equivalent to a cabinet minister this year. Ji Yunshi was named vice minister of personnel last week, Zhou Qiang was made governor of southern Hunan province this month and Liu Qibao was appointed party chief of southern Guangxi region in June.

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