Ding Xuexiang[a] (born 13 September 1962) is a Chinese politician who is currently the first-ranked vice premier of China and the sixth-ranked member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. He has also been leader of the Central Leading Group on Hong Kong and Macau Affairs since March 2023.[1]
Ding Xuexiang | |
|---|---|
 Ding in 2023 | |
| First-ranked Vice Premier of China | |
| Assumed office 12 March 2023 | |
| Premier | Li Qiang |
| Preceded by | Han Zheng |
| Director of the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party | |
| In office 15 November 2017 – March 2023 | |
| Deputy | Meng Xiangfeng (executive) |
| General Secretary | Xi Jinping |
| Preceded by | Li Zhanshu |
| Succeeded by | Cai Qi |
| Director of the Office of the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party | |
| In office May 2013 – March 2023 | |
| General Secretary | Xi Jinping |
| Preceded by | Chen Shiju |
| Succeeded by | Cai Qi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 September 1962 Nantong, Jiangsu, China |
| Political party | Chinese Communist Party |
| Children | 1 son |
| Alma mater | |
| Cabinet | Li Qiang Government |
Considered a close confidant of CCP general secretary Xi Jinping, Ding served on Xi's staff beginning in Shanghai, then followed him to Beijing. He served as the director of the CCP General Secretary's Office between 2013 and 2023 and the director of the CCP General Office between 2017 and 2023. He was also a member of the 19th Party Politburo, and a Secretary of the Party Secretariat between 2017 and 2022.
Early life and education
editDing Xuexiang was born in Nantong, Jiangsu province, on 13 September 1962. He graduated from the Northeast Heavy Machinery Institute in Qinghuangdao, later renamed Yanshan University, in 1982 with a degree in engineering. Ding Xuexiang got his first job at the Shanghai Research Institute of Materials (SRIM) from 1982 to 1999, and joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1984.[2] Ding Xuexiang received a master's degree in public administration from Fudan University's School of Management in 1993.[3] At the Shanghai Research Institute of Materials, Ding advanced rapidly through various research, administrative, and party positions.
Political career
editDing's rise to the Politburo was achieved primarily by climbing the ranks of the party.[3] Ding moved into politics after obtaining his first cadre position, as the deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Science & Technology Commission, in 1999.[4] Throughout his tenure at the SRIM, he attained leadership roles in propaganda, organization, general office, politics, and legal affairs, gaining valuable experience in all said fields. He moved up the ranks of the party apparatus in Shanghai, finishing off his time in the city as Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee in 2013.[5] He would first be elected to the Central Committee as an alternate member at the 18th Party Congress in 2012.
Politburo and Secretariat
editDing joined the Politburo and the Secretariat of the CCP in October 2017 as director of the CCP General Office while retaining the post of CCP General Secretary's office director (chief of staff).[6][7]
Vice Premiership
edit
Following the first plenary session of the 20th CCP Central Committee in October 2022, Ding was elevated to the CCP Politburo Standing Committee, the top decision-making body in China.[8] Upon his nomination, Voice of America described Ding as "loyal and strong in coordination, but lacking experience in macroeconomic management and other people's livelihood affairs".[9]
Ding succeeded Han Zheng as the first-ranking vice premier of China and leader of the Central Leading Group on Hong Kong and Macau Affairs in March 2023.[10] His portfolio included development and reform,[11] education,[12] science and technology,[13] finance,[14] ecology and environment,[15] statistics,[16] and intellectual property.[17] In June 2024, he was revealed to be the leader of the Central Science and Technology Commission.[18]
In July 2023 China and the European Union hold the Fourth EU-China High Level Environment and Climate Dialogue. The European delegation to China was led by Frans Timmermans, while China was represented by Ding Xuexiang. Both sides declared they will continue to cooperate in stopping climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Both sides agree to ensure the success of COP28, implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, advance the High Seas Treaty, cooperate in water policy, reach a global agreement on plastic pollution by 2024. Both sides agree to support circular economy. In November 2023, Ding attended COP28 in Dubai.[19]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ 张, 丽青 (2022) [2022-10-23]. "
中共 二 十届中央领导机构成员简历" [Biographical notes of the members of the 20th Central Governing Body of the Communist Party of China]. www.moj.gov.cn (in Chinese).中 华人民 共和 国 司法 部 . Retrieved 2024-06-08 – via新 华网. - ^ "Ding Xuexiang" (PDF). brookings.edu. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ a b Kenderdine, Tristan. "Xi Loyalist Ding Xuexiang Could Benefit From Factional Infighting". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ Wong, Edward (30 September 2015). "The 'Gatekeeper' in Xi Jinping's Inner Circle". New York Times. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ Xinhua. "Ding Xuexiang -- Member of Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee". China Daily. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ "1st Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC (Chinese)". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on 2017-10-25.
- ^ "China Vitae : Biography of Ding Xuexiang". www.chinavitae.com.
- ^ "Communique of the first plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee". www.gov.cn. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ^ "习近
平 为什么看中 了 丁 薛祥？" [Why does Xi Jinping prefer Ding Xuexiang?]. Voice of America. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2023. - ^ Zheng, William (21 March 2023). "Mainland China executive vice-premier made Beijing's top official for Hong Kong and Macau affairs". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "
中国 发展高 层论坛2023年 年会 开幕丁 薛祥宣 读习近平 主席 贺信并发表 主旨 演 讲 [The 2023 Annual Conference of the China Development Forum opens. Ding Xuexiang reads the congratulatory letter from President Xi Jinping and delivers a keynote speech]". Xinhua. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023. - ^ "
丁 薛祥在 全国 高校 毕业生 等 青年 就业创业工作 电视电话会 议上强 调 扎实做好高校 毕业生 就业创业工作 确保取得 让党和 人民 满意的 成 效 [Ding Xuexiang emphasized at the national teleconference on the employment and entrepreneurship of college graduates and other young people that they should do a good job in the employment and entrepreneurship of college graduates to ensure that the party and the people are satisfied with the results]". Xinhua. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023. - ^ "
丁 薛祥出席 2023年 全国 科技 活 动周暨北京 科技 周 启动式 活 动 [Ding Xuexiang attended the launch event of the 2023 National Science and Technology Week and Beijing Science and Technology Week]". Xinhua. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023. - ^ "
丁 薛祥出席 新 开发银行第 八届理事会年会开幕式并致辞 [Ding Xuexiang attended the opening ceremony of the 8th Annual Meeting of the New Development Bank Council and delivered a speech]". Xinhua. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023. - ^ "
丁 薛祥会 见联合 国 气候变化迪 拜 大会 候 任 主席 苏尔坦 [Ding Xuexiang meets with Sultan, President-Designate of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai]". Xinhua. 18 April 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023. - ^ "
第 四届联合国世界数据论坛开幕丁 薛祥宣 读习近平 主席 贺信并致辞 [The 4th United Nations World Data Forum opens. Ding Xuexiang reads the congratulatory letter from President Xi Jinping and delivers a speech]". Xinhua. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023. - ^ "
中国 与 世界 知 识产权组织合作 五十周年纪念暨宣传周主场活动在京举行丁 薛祥宣 读习近平 主席 贺信并致辞 [The 50th Anniversary of Cooperation between China and the World Intellectual Property Organization and the Propaganda Week Home Event Held in Beijing Ding Xuexiang Read President Xi Jinping's Congratulatory Letter and Delivered a Speech]". Xinhua. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023. - ^ "Senior Chinese official urges promotion of sci-tech advancement". Xinhua News Agency. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Joint Press Release following the Fourth EU-China High Level Environment and Climate Dialogue". Delegation of the European Union to the People’s Republic of China. the European Union. Retrieved 30 July 2023.