Ethnic Hui, native of Yushu, Jilin Province, born in October 1944. Joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in April 1966 and began working in August 1964. With a college education at the CPC Jilin Provincial Committee Party School. Economic administrator.

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

1961-1964 Student of the Agricultural School of Jilin Province

1964-1968 Staff member of the Agricultural Bureau and Personnel Supervision Bureau of Yushu County, Jilin Province

1968-1969 Sent to do manual labor in May 7th Cadre School of Yushu County, Jilin Province

1969-1972 Secretary of the political department and deputy head of the general office of the Revolutionary Committee of Yushu County, Jilin Province

1972-1974 Deputy director of the Organization Department of the CPC Yushu County Committee, and secretary of the CPC Committee of Yujia People's Commune, Jilin Province

1974-1977 Deputy secretary of the CPC Yushu County Committee, Jilin Province

1977-1984 Deputy director general of Jilin Provincial Agricultural Bureau, and deputy director general and deputy secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of Jilin Provincial Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Department

1984-1985 Deputy secretary of the CPC Baicheng Prefectural Committee and commissioner of Baicheng Prefectural Administrative Office, Jilin Province

1985-1987 Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jilin Provincial Committee and concurrently head of the Rural Policy Research Office and head of Rural Work Department of the CPC Jilin Provincial Committee (attended correspondence courses for Party and government officials at the Provincial Party School between 1984 and 1987)

1987-1990 Vice governor of Jilin Province

1990-1992 Deputy head of the Policy Research Office, CPC Central Committee

1992-1993 Deputy secretary of the CPC Hubei Provincial Committee

1993-1994 Deputy secretary of the CPC Hubei Provincial Committee and chairman of the Hubei Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)

1994-1995 Deputy secretary of the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee and acting governor of Anhui Province

1995-1998 Deputy secretary of the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee and governor of Anhui Province

1998-1999 Secretary of the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee

1999-2002 Secretary of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee

2002-2003 Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee

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

Alternate member of the 14th CPC Central Committee, member of the 15th through 17th CPC Central Committees, and member of the Political Bureau of the 16th and 17th CPC Central Committees.