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Li Keqiang becomes premier of China

China's newly elected President Xi Jinping (L) stands next to Premier Li Keqiang during a meeting with both foreign and domestic press at the end of the 18th Communist Party Congress (CPC) in Beijing on November 15, 2012. Xi Jinping has been confirmed as the man to lead China for the next decade, and says the ruling Communist Party faces "severe challenges." UPI/Stephen Shaver

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Published: March. 15, 2013 at 12:58 AM

BEIJING, March 15 (UPI) -- Li Keqiang, 58, an economist, became China's premier Friday, succeeding Wen Jiabao.

The appointment was approved by the National People's Congress, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Li's elevation to premier came a day after Xi Jinping took over as China's president, succeeding Hu Jintao.

The appointments of Xi and Li completed the once-in-a-decade leadership change in the Communist country.

Li, who was born in Anhui province, joined the Communist Party in 1976 after graduating from Peking University with degrees in economics and law. He was appointed vice premier in 2008 and was re-elected in November to the powerful Politburo Standing Committee.

As premier, Li must tackle a large portfolio of domestic affairs, economic challenges, environmental woes and China's urbanization drive, the BBC said.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew have planned visits to Beijing as the new Chinese administration takes over.

Topics: Wen Jiabao, Hu Jintao, John Kerry, Xi Jinping

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