BEIJING - Chen Jining was appointed as China's environmental protection minister on Friday, replacing Zhou Shengxian.

Chen is an environmental scientist and once president of Tsinghua University before replacing Zhou Shengxian as CPC ministerial secretary in late January.

Chen also resigned as a member of the NPC Standing Committee. Members of the committee cannot hold administrative, judicial or procutoratorial office.

His resignation was accepted by the NPC Standing Committee.