Tujia ethnic group, native of Yinjiang, Guizhou Province, born in March 1941. Started working in September 1964 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in June 1973. Graduated from the College of Foreign Languages of the Sichuan University, majoring in Russian language, university education.

Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC); state councilor and member of the Leading Party Members' Group of the State Council; director of the office of the foreign affairs leading group of the CPC Central Committee; director of the office of the national security work leading group of the CPC Central Committee; vice-minister of foreign affairs and member of the ministry's Leading Party Members' Group.

1959-1964 Studied Russian of the Foreign Language Department of the Sichuan University

1964-1965 Studied at China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing

1965-1966 Took part in "Four Clean-up" campaign in Liuyang County, Hunan Province

1966-1969 Worked at the Department of Soviet and European Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1969-1973 Suite member to the Chinese Embassy in USSR

1973-1974 Worked in the May 7th Cadre School of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1974-1985 Section member, vice section chief, section chief of the Department of Soviet and European Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1980-1982 vice-director of the China-USSR negotiation office; 1983-1985 member of the Anhui liaison group of the guiding committee for Party rectification of the CPC Central Committee)

1985-1986 Deputy director of the Department of Soviet and European Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1986-1989 Director of the Department of Soviet and European Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1989-1991 Ambassador to Hungary

1991-1993 Assistant to the minister of foreign affairs, member of the CPC Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1993-1995 Vice-minister of foreign affairs, member of the CPC Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1995-1997 Deputy head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (March-May 1996 Received advanced training for ministerial officials at the Party School of CPC Central Committee)

1997-2003 Head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (March-May 2002 Received advanced training for ministerial officials at the Party School of CPC Central Committee)

2003-2005 Secretary of the CPC Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, vice-minister of foreign affairs

2005-2007 Director of the office of the foreign affairs leading group of the CPC Central Committee; director of the office of the national security work leading group of the CPC Central Committee; vice-minister of foreign affairs, secretary of the CPC Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2007-2008 Director of the office of the foreign affairs leading group of the CPC Central Committee; director of the office of the national security work leading group of the CPC Central Committee; vice-minister of foreign affairs, member of the CPC Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2008- State councilor; member of the Leading Party Members' Group of the State Council; director of the office of the foreign affairs leading group of the CPC Central Committee; director of the office of the national security work leading group of the CPC Central Committee; vice-minister of foreign affairs, member of the CPC Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Member of the 15th, 16th and 17th CPC central committees.