Xi signs presidential decree to appoint Li Keqiang as premier

Xi Jinping (L, front) shakes hands with Li Keqiang at the sixth plenary meeting of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 18, 2018. Li Keqiang was endorsed as Chinese premier Sunday at the ongoing first session of the 13th NPC, the country's national legislature. Nearly 3,000 NPC deputies voted to approve the premiership nomination of Li, by newly-elected President Xi Jinping. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Newly-elected Chinese President Xi Jinping signed his first presidential decree to appoint Li Keqiang as premier Sunday morning during the ongoing session of China's national legislature.