Profile: China ushers in new cabinet leadership (2)

In the 1980s, when he was deputy governor in charge of public transport and infrastructure in south China's Guangdong Province, Zhang paved the way for the country's first electricity pricing reforms, a move that helped alleviate a widespread power crunch.

In the 1990s, Zhang negotiated with the nation's nuclear authorities multiple times before creating a provincial scheme for developing nuclear power.

When serving concurrently as Guangdong's provincial leader and Party secretary of Shenzhen, a frontier for China's reform and opening up, Zhang led the city's land transfer reform in 1998 and strengthened cooperation between the province and the neighboring Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.

In his 10-year tenure as Guangdong's vice governor and executive vice governor, Zhang presided over and joined negotiations concerning a number of major projects, making contributions to the province's development and opening up.

"Reform and opening up has entered a crucial stage," Zhang told legislators from Tianjin. "We must take active yet prudent steps to promote reforms in taxation, finance, distribution and government administration with greater determination, courage and wisdom."

In discussions with national legislators and political advisors, Zhang took notes while listening and at times chipped in. "Don't repeat what the books say," he said, welcoming them to make comments and suggestions.

While fostering an amiable atmosphere at the panels, Zhang often revealed his rigorous economic training in analysis of various economic issues, citing statistics from home and abroad.

The key for development now lies in policy implementation, as the central government has made the correct decisions and arrangements, he said.

Speaking about China's macro-economy, Zhang said that ensuring sustainable and healthy economic development and a happy and peaceful life for the people will require top efforts to be made to promote economic structural adjustments, technological innovation and the protection of resources and the environment.

He also said that urbanization should be carried out in a steady and orderly way, with attention given to ecological environments and resources. "The key to urbanization should be seen in medium-sized and small cities. Large cities should not expand in a blind manner."

When commenting on taxation and fiscal work, Zhang said the government should be a good "housekeeper" and put the money to good use, backing his points with data, such as China's 2012 fiscal revenues and broad money supply.