He Lifeng: China’s expected new economic tsar has big shoes to fill

BEIJING, Oct 30 (Reuters) – He Lifeng, head of China’s state planning agency, is likely to succeed the country’s economic tsar Vice Premier Liu He in March, but may struggle to maintain his predecessor’s policy clout. He, 67, a confidant of President Xi Jinping, was elevated to the ruling Communist Party’s Politburo during its once-every-five-years congress this month. That paves the way for He’s expected promotion as the 70-year-old Liu is due to step down in March. The top priority for He will be to help Li Qiang – another Xi ally, tipped to become the new Premier in March…