The twelfth Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) held an oath-taking ceremony for four newly elected high-level officials in the Great Hall of the People on Nov 7.

In the recently concluded twenty-fourth meeting of the NPC standing committee, government officials, including the minister of State Security, the minister of civil affairs and the minister of finance, were newly appointed. In accordance with regulations, the officials pledged to be loyal to the Constitution.

At 11 in the morning, everybody stood up and sung the national anthem. Sheng Guangzu, a newly appointed member of the Financial and Economic Committee, was the first to read the oath, holding the Constitution in his hands. The other officials, among them the new ministers, then repeated the oath after him.

Newly appointed high-level officials vow loyalty to the Constitution [Photo by Sheng Jiapeng/China News Service]

Newly appointed high-level officials vow to be loyal the Constitution [Photo by Sheng Jiapeng/China News Service]