Li Qiang (born 1959)

Li Qiang
李强
Communist Party Secretary of Jiangsu
Incumbent
Assumed office June 2016
Deputy	Shi Taifeng
Preceded by	Luo Zhijun
Governor of Zhejiang
In office December 2012 – June 2016
Preceded by	Xia Baolong
Succeeded by	Che Jun
Personal details
Born	July 1959 (age 57) Rui'an, Zhejiang
Political party	Communist Party of China
Alma mater	Central Party School of the Communist Party of China

Li Qiang (Chinese: 李强; born July 1959) is a Chinese politician and senior regional official. He is the current Communist Party Secretary of Jiangsu. Between 2012 and 2016, he was Governor of Zhejiang province. Prior to his governorship, Li served successively as the party chief of Wenzhou, the Secretary-General of the Zhejiang party committee, and Deputy Party Secretary of Zhejiang.

Career

Li Qiang was born in Rui'an, Zhejiang in 1959. He attended Zhejiang Agricultural University (now a part of Zhejiang University), where he majored in agricultural mechanization. He joined the Communist Party of China in April 1983. He was the chief of the Communist Youth League of Rui'an County. He then served in progressively senior roles in the provincial department of civil affairs. He later became the Communist Party Chief of the city of Yongkang, and then party chief of the prefecture-level city of Wenzhou. In 2005, Li earned a seat on the provincial Party Standing Committee, serving under then party chief Xi Jinping, and also became the secretary-general of the provincial party committee, in charge of administration and coordination.^[1]

Li holds a master's degree in Business Administration from the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China.^[1][2]

In February 2011, he became the Political and Legal Affairs Secretary of Zhejiang province, and several months later was made deputy party chief.^[2]

In December 2012 he became the acting governor of Zhejiang, succeeding Xia Baolong who was promoted to the provincial party chief, and was officially elected as Governor in January 2013.^[1] In 2015, Li accompanied Xi Jinping on a state visit to the United States. In June 2016, Li Qiang was named party chief of Jiangsu province, one of the most important regional political positions in China.^[2]

Li Qiang is an alternate member of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.^[1][2] Li is considered a close political ally of Xi Jinping, and is likely destined for higher office.

References

1. 李强简历 [Biography of Li Qiang] (in Chinese). Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
2. 李强简历 [Biography of Li Qiang] (in Chinese). People's Daily. Retrieved 2013-02-10.