Mayor Said to Quit to Take Job at Private Research Institute

(Beijing) – A mayor in the eastern province of Shandong has resigned from his post, and a person close to him says he will join a private genomics research institute.

A legislative body in the city of Jining agreed on September 6 to accept the resignation of Mei Yonghong, the city government said on its website.

Mei, 50, became the mayor of the city of more than 8 million people in October 2010 when the ruling Communist Party's Organization Department, which handles personnel matters, chose 66 officials working at the central government level to serve in local government posts.