On September 12, the central government approved the appointment of Li Qiang as a member of the Standing Committee of the Liaoning Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Dalian Municipal Party Committee. On the same day, the former Dalian Municipal Party Secretary, Xiong Maoping, stepped down from his positions as Deputy Secretary of the Liaoning Provincial Party Committee, member of the Provincial Standing Committee, and Secretary of the Dalian Municipal Party Committee. Li Qiang previously served as the Mayor of Dalian.