Premier Li Keqiang presided over a swearing-in ceremony, which was held by the State Council, on March 17 in Beijing.

Thirty-six heads of 29 departments and affiliated agencies, appointed by the State Council between September 2020 and March 2021, swore to uphold the Constitution in accordance with the law and document on organizing the swearing-in ceremony.

Xiao Jie, state councilor and secretary-general of the State Council, declared the commencement of the ceremony at 11 am. All attendees arose and sang the national anthem. The leader of the ceremony, with his left hand upon the Constitution, took the oath. Others lined up behind him and repeated the oath.

After the oath, Premier Li asked each civil servant to fully perform their duties and put the oath into practice. He required all to remain loyal to the Constitution and follow the laws, under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

They were required to perform their duties in accordance with the law in a stringent manner and keep in mind the rule of law in their work to push forward law-based governance.

Meanwhile, the Premier also asked them to wholeheartedly serve the people and help them live a better life, and make efforts to solve market entities' and people's concerns, with relevant policies formulated and implemented.

And they should make good use of the approaches of reform and opening-up in fulfilling their tasks, continuously tackle problems and scale new heights with a pragmatic and diligent attitude.

In addition, they should remain honest, upright, and disciplined, insist on decent and unsullied conduct, and stay cautious and provident to enrich the people.

Also attending the ceremony were vice-premiers Han Zheng, Sun Chunlan and Hu Chunhua, as well as state councilors Wei Fenghe, Wang Yong, Wang Yi, and Zhao Kezhi. Senior officials from other departments under the State Council also attended the ceremony.