Guangdong party secretary Wang Yang, State Councillor Liu Yandong and State Council secretary general Ma Kai are front runners to fill the vice-premiership vacancies to be left by Zhang Dejiang, Hui Liangyu and Wang Qishan in March.
Judging by her past experience, Liu, 67, could become the vice-premier responsible for culture, education, health care and technology.
If she does manage to land the position, she would become the first female vice-premier since the retirement of Wu Yi in 2008. Wu was a member of the 16th Politburo from 2002 to 2007.
Liu was re-elected to the Politburo and has been joined on the top decision-making body by another woman, Fujian party secretary Sun Chunlan . It is only the second time that two women have been members of the Politburo, following Jiang Qing , the wife of Mao Zedong , and Ye Qun , the wife of Lin Biao , on the ninth Politburo formed in 1969, during the Cultural Revolution.
The only other woman to serve on the Politburo was late party veteran Deng Yingchao , the wife of former premier Zhou Enlai , who was a member of the 11th and 12th Politburos between 1978 and 1987.
Wang Yang, 57, who failed to secure a place at the Politburo Standing Committee, is tipped to be given a portfolio overseeing industry, transport and energy after serving as deputy secretary general of the State Council and party secretary of Chongqing and then Guangdong over the past decade.
