Yunnan Copper Group Co., China's third-biggest producer of the metal, appointed Liu Caiming as chairman, replacing Zou Shaolu, who resigned last month.

The board also named Yang Chao as vice chairman, the Kunming, Yunnan-province-based copper maker said today in a statement to the Shenzhen's stock exchange.

Liu, 48, was formerly deputy general manager of Aluminum Corp. of China and had previously served as an assistant to the governor of Yunnan province, the company said in a statement on Jan. 22.

Yang Chao was formerly chairman of Yunnan Tin Co., the world's biggest producer of the metal.