Taipei, Feb. 14 (CNA) The Executive Yuan said Friday that it has named the director-general of the New Taipei City Government's Urban and Rural Development Department, Chang Fan, as political deputy minister of finance.

The Cabinet said Chang's appointment is aimed at taking advantage of his expertise in state-owned land development and urban planning.

Chang has a doctorate in land economics from National Cheng Chi University.

The Executive Yuan said Chang is expected to supervise state-owned property management, while helping Minister of Finance Chang Sheng-ford push for other major financial policies.

Chang will take over from Chang Pei-chih, who has tendered his resignation for health reasons and will step down Feb. 17.

Before working for the New Taipei city government, Chang worked for the Industrial Development Bureau under the Ministry of Economic Affairs as head of several sections, and for the Legislative Yuan as a researcher and secretary.

He has also served as deputy director of the National Property Administration of the Ministry of Finance.

The Executive Yuan said Chang was instrumental in pushing for government initiatives in the development of several industrial parks, including the Changhua Coastal Industrial Park Service Center and the Yunlin Offshore Industrial Park. 

(By Hsieh Chia-chen and Frances Huang)
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