China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng has assumed a leadership role at a top economic decision-making body, further cementing his position as the successor to US-China trade war-era policy aide Liu He.

He — a close confidante of President Xi Jinping — was described in a Chinese state media report as the office director of the Communist Party’s Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission, the first public record of that appointment since the government finished reshuffling its key leaders in March.