BEIJING, Jan. 9 -- The State Council, China's cabinet, announced on Thursday it has appointed Wang Chao and Zhang Ming as vice foreign ministers.

Song Tao will no longer hold the post of vice foreign minister.

In a statement, the State Council also announced a number of appointments and removals of government officials.

Shen Changyu has replaced Tian Lipu as commissioner of the State Intellectual Property Office.

Li Gang was appointed director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, replacing Bai Zhijian.

Hou Jianguo was reappointed president of the University of Science and Technology of China.

The State Council has also removed Wang Chao, vice minister of commerce, and Huang Qiang, deputy head of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence, from their posts.