China appoints Zhang Zhu agriculture minister in second shake-up in two years

China ​on Thursday named Zhang ​Zhu agriculture minister, ‌days after ​appointing him to lead the Communist Party's operations ‌at the ministry, in the second top-level shake-up in two years.

China ​on Thursday named Zhang ​Zhu agriculture minister, ‌days after ​appointing him to lead the Communist Party's operations ‌at the ministry, in the second top-level shake-up in two years. Zhang, 58, a veteran regional and ‌agricultural official who most recently served as ‌party chief of Urumqi, the capital of China's northwestern Xinjiang region, replaces Han Jun, 62, who had served ⁠as ​agriculture minister ⁠and party chief since 2024.

Han replaced Tang Renjian, ⁠who was investigated by the party's powerful anti-graft ​watchdog in May 2024, after four years in ⁠the role, and later sentenced to death with ⁠a ​two-year reprieve for taking $38 million in bribes. The agriculture ministry has not specified why ⁠Han has been replaced in his posts, and his ⁠resume ⁠has been removed from the Chinese version of the ministry's website.