Wang Qishan, anti-corruption czar, may become China's next vice-president: Report

Wang Qishan, 69, the feared anti-corruption 'czar' who left China's Communist Party during this month's party congress is likely to be appointed vice-president next year at President Xi's request, the NikkeiAsian Review quoted Hong Kong's Sing Tao Daily newspaper as saying.

Wang Qishan, a close aide of President Xi in the Communist Party, was known as the 'second most powerful' person in the Communist Party, stepped down from the party's Standing Committee last week as President Xi undertook a major reshuffle of the party structure at the top with new faces as China's newly-elected president set out a new five-year term.

Just Xi and Premier Li Keqiang are part of the new Standing Committee, rest of the five members are new members expected to take major decisions as China begins a new era under Xi's supreme leadership.

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Wang Qishan was responsible for crackdown on corruption in a big way with several party big-wigs being sent to prison. Reports said Wang retired from Politburo Standing Committee as he had reached the "unofficial retirement age", most CPC leaders retire at the age of 68 which is the "unwritten rule" in the Communist Party of China.

There were reports of Wang taking over the National Security Commission (NSC) but the powerful CPC official decided to keep himself out of party politics altogether.