Ethnic Han, born in September 1942, native of Tianjin. Joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in April 1965 and began working in September 1967. Graduated from the Beijing Institute of Geology, majoring in geological structure. With a postgraduate education. Engineer.

Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, premier of the State Council and secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group.

1960-1965 Student majoring in geological surveying and prospecting of No. 1 Department of Geology and Minerals at Beijing Institute of Geology

1965-1968 Postgraduate majoring in geological structure at Beijing Institute of Geology

1968-1978 Technician and political instructor of the Geomechanics Team under Gansu Provincial Geological Bureau and head of its political section

1978-1979 Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Committee of the Geomechanics Team under Gansu Provincial Geological Bureau and deputy head of the team

1979-1981 Deputy section chief and engineer of Gansu Provincial Geological Bureau

1981-1982 Deputy director general of Gansu Provincial Geological Bureau

1982-1983 Director general of the Policy and Law Research Office of the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources and member of its Leading Party Members' Group

1983-1985 Vice-minister of Geology and Mineral Resources, member and deputy secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group and director general of its Political Department

1985-1986 Deputy director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee

1986-1987 Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee

1987-1992 Alternate member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and concurrently director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and secretary of the Work Committee of Departments under the CPC Central Committee

1992-1993 Alternate member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the Work Committee of Departments under the CPC Central Committee

1993-1997 Alternate member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee

1997-1998 Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee

1998-2002 Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, vice premier of the State Council, member of its Leading Party Members' Group and secretary of the Financial Work Committee of the CPC Central Committee

2002-2003 Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, vice premier of the State Council, member of its Leading Party Members' Group and secretary of the Financial Work Committee of the CPC Central Committee

2003- Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, premier of the State Council and secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group

Member of the 13th through 17th CPC Central Committees. Alternate member of the Secretariat of the 13th CPC Central Committee. Alternate member of the Political Bureau of the 14th CPC Central Committee and member of the Secretariat of the 14th CPC Central Committee. Member of the Political Bureau of the 15th CPC Central Committee and member of the Secretariat of the 15th CPC Central Committee. Member and Standing Committee member of the Political Bureaus of the 16th and 17th CPC Central Committees.