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Phoebe Zhang

A banking veteran has been appointed the new deputy Communist Party secretary and acting mayor of the southern Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen, just months before the city is scheduled to host a series of Apec meetings.
The positions have been filled by Li Yun, who spent more than two decades working in financial institutions and has been the vice-governor of Guangdong province since March last year.
As Shenzhen’s new deputy party secretary and acting mayor, Li takes over from Qin Weizhong, the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported on Monday.
Meeting members of the standing committee of the municipal people’s congress, Li vowed to always “implement the decisions of the Central Committee, provincial and municipal party committees”, as well as push for progress and achievements in Shenzhen’s high-quality development and modernisation drive, the report said.
Li, 52, has a doctorate in world economy from Wuhan University and worked for 21 years at Agricultural Bank of China. In 2021, he became vice-president of China Construction Bank and in 2025 he became the vice-governor of Guangdong.
Shenzhen is due to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November, an event that the Chinese leadership sees as a great opportunity to showcase China’s technological innovation, build high-level diplomatic engagement and drive regional integration.
Qin, Li’s predecessor, was appointed deputy party secretary and mayor of Shenzhen in May 2021.
Qin resigned because of a “change in work post”, the report said, without elaborating.
He is an alternate member of the party’s 20th Central Committee, which is expected to sit until 2027, when the 21st party congress will be held.
Before taking up the positions in Shenzhen, Qin, who has a PhD in chemical engineering from Tsinghua University in Beijing, was responsible for housing, the environment and big data management in Guangdong, the provincial capital.




Li’s appointment comes five months after 56-year-old economist Jin Lei was appointed party chief of Shenzhen. Jin, formerly an official in the southwestern province of Sichuan, took over from Meng Fanli nearly six months after Meng was promoted to provincial governor.
Shortly after his appointment, Jin inspected preparation work for the Apec meetings and vowed to “resolutely fulfil this major political mission and fully serve the overall national diplomatic strategy”.
Since then, the city has launched a series of measures to tackle some long-running issues, including e-bikes and public smoking. It has also ramped up security.
Futian district, home to the Apec venues, previously announced it would go “all in” on internationalisation, upgrading services and attracting global companies.
Shenzhen has also seized this opportunity to seal deals. Last month, the Port of Shenzhen signed agreements with 16 other ports around the world on routes, port construction and professional development.


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Banking veteran Li Yun fills senior Shenzhen posts in countdown to Apec

Li Yun spent 21 years in the banking industry. Photo: Handout

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Shanghai will host the second Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) 2026 Senior Officials’ Meeting this month. Suzhou will also host related Apec meetings. Photo: Shutterstock

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In Shenzhen, a proliferation of electric scooters has brought increased mobility but also dangerous behaviour, while pedestrians have to navigate a mess of bikes on footpaths. Photo: Getty Images

Jin Lei was appointed party secretary of Shenzhen in March. Photo: Handout

Tech hub Shenzhen is an important part of the Greater Bay Area scheme. Photo: Reuters

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Li takes over from Qin Weizhong as China prepares to showcase the city to the world in November summit


Li takes over from Qin Weizhong as China prepares to showcase the city to the world in November summit.


Banking veteran Li Yun fills senior Shenzhen posts in countdown to Apec

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Li takes over from Qin Weizhong as China prepares to showcase the city to the world in November summit

Li takes over from Qin Weizhong as China prepares to showcase the city to the world in November summit