A former subordinate of China's President Xi Jinping has become the chief of the Communist Party's propaganda department. The appointment appears to be aimed at heightening the authority of the top leader.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress began its new session on Wednesday.

The state-run China Central Television reported that Li Shulei attended the session as the head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party's Central Committee. Li was Xi's deputy at the party's school for training the next generation of senior officials.

Until recently, Li had also been a deputy head of the Publicity Department, which is responsible for propaganda work.

He was elected to the party's decision-making body, the 24-member Politburo, on Sunday.

Li is 58 years old. He entered the prestigious Peking University at the age of 14 and was called a child prodigy.

Li was a professor at the Central Party School, and became the school's vice president in 2009. Xi Jinping was the school's president at the time.

Beijing watchers say Li is very close to the top leader, and the new chief of the propaganda department is expected to lead the efforts to reinforce Xi's authority.