New finance chief 'to speed up fiscal reform'

Lou Jiwei faces tasks of boosting spending on livelihoods as government's income growth slows

Lou Jiwei's appointment as China's new finance minister was viewed by many as a sign that more rapid reform is on the way for the nation's fiscal system, but the challenges he faces are much greater than those encountered by his predecessors.

Confidence in 62-year-old Lou comes from his rich working experience in the government's financial system and the impression he has made as a steady reformer.