Guo Shengkun, the new head of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee under the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said on Oct 31 that the committee must fulfill its duties to maintain social stability and make the public feel more secure.

Guo, 63, made the remark during a meeting of the committee. It was his first public appearance as the committee’s Party secretary. His new appointment was a part of reshuffling among Party officials after the 19th CPC National Congress, which concluded last week.

Guo added that achieving the great goal of socialism with Chinese characteristics requires a safe and stable social environment and fair legal environment.

Guo, who is currently still the minster and Party chief of the Ministry of Public Security, was elected to the 25-member Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Oct 25 during the First Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee.

He became the head of the Ministry of Public Security in 2012 after working as the Party chief of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region from 2007.

He was the general manager of Aluminum Corp of China between 2001 and 2004 before taking on the role of deputy Party secretary of Guangxi in 2004.