BEIJING -- China Mobile Communications Group on Monday named China Telecom head Yang Jie as chairman in a move that will speed cooperation on 5G technology among the country's three major state-owned telecommunications companies.
Yang, 56, will also serve as Communist Party secretary of the China Mobile group. He will guide the company as both party chief -- in China, the Communist Party oversees domestic businesses -- and head of the management team. The personnel move is part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's effort to promote 5G technology at home.
Yang is also expected to serve as chairman of listed subsidiary China Mobile.
Shang Bing, 63, stepped down as group chairman and secretary Monday due to age, China Mobile said in a statement. Some local media reported that Shang will likely be moved to a department involved in the government's campaign to roll out 5G.
China Unicom (Hong Kong) is the country's other major telecom group.
