Han Zheng
Encyclopedia
Han Zheng is the current mayor of Shanghai, the 13th to serve in the position since the founding of the People's Republic of China
. He is also the most senior member of the Shanghai clique
who is not a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China
, and also member of the emerging fifth generation
.
, Zhejiang
province and joined the CPC
in 1979. He holds a Master's Degree
from East China Normal University
and is a senior economist
. He joined the CPC Central Committee in 2002. In 2003 he was named the Mayor of Shanghai at age 48, the youngest Mayor the city has seen in fifty years. A vocal advocate of the Shanghai
real estate boom, Han has a largely positive image with the Shanghai populace for his openness and transparency. However, because he served under Chen Liangyu
, the CPC Shanghai Secretary at the time, Han supported many of Chen's policies, notably those favouring Shanghai's regional development, held in contrast to the position of the central CPC leadership. Therefore it is still difficult to gauge whether or not Han was involved in the alleged Shanghai pension scandal
.
On 25 September 2006, Han became the acting Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee after the dismissal of Chen Liangyu
over corruption probes. With what were believed to be stern messages sent by President Hu Jintao
, Han led a municipal task force to crack down on the corruption in Shanghai, and has since then been believed to be a Hu loyalist. His tenure as the number one figure in Shanghai lasted a mere five months, when on 24 March 2007, he was replaced by Xi Jinping
, the Party Chief for the nearby province of Zhejiang
, as the next Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee. Han still keeps the position of the Mayor of Shanghai. He is longlisted for the 2008 World Mayor
award.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. He is also the most senior member of the Shanghai clique
Shanghai clique
The Shanghai clique or Shanghai faction is the name given to an informal group of officials in the Communist Party of China, especially those who serve in the central government of the People's Republic of China or the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, who rose to prominence in...
who is not a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China
Politburo of the Communist Party of China
The Central Politburo of the Communist Party of China or Political bureau of the CPC Central Committee , formerly as Central Bureau before 1927, is a group of 24 people who oversee the Communist Party of China...
, and also member of the emerging fifth generation
Generations of Chinese leadership
Because both the Communist Party of China and the People's Liberation Army promote according to seniority, it is possible to discern distinct generations of Chinese leadership...
.
Life and career
He was born in CixiCixi City
Cixi is a city within the sub-provincial city of Ningbo located in China's Zhejiang province.- History :The city was captured by British forces in the Battle of Tsekee on 15 March 1842 during the First Opium War...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
province and joined the CPC
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
in 1979. He holds a Master's Degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from East China Normal University
East China Normal University
East China Normal University , was founded in October 1951 in western Shanghai, on the campus of Great China University. It is the first Normal University founded after the establishment of the People's Republic of China.-History:...
and is a senior economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
. He joined the CPC Central Committee in 2002. In 2003 he was named the Mayor of Shanghai at age 48, the youngest Mayor the city has seen in fifty years. A vocal advocate of the Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
real estate boom, Han has a largely positive image with the Shanghai populace for his openness and transparency. However, because he served under Chen Liangyu
Chen Liangyu
Chen Liangyu was a politician of the People's Republic of China from the ruling Communist Party, and the disgraced CPC Shanghai Committee Secretary, or the city's first-in-charge....
, the CPC Shanghai Secretary at the time, Han supported many of Chen's policies, notably those favouring Shanghai's regional development, held in contrast to the position of the central CPC leadership. Therefore it is still difficult to gauge whether or not Han was involved in the alleged Shanghai pension scandal
Shanghai pension scandal
The Shanghai pension scandal was a corruption case in Shanghai, China, in the which resulted in the dismissal of several senior Chinese Communist Party officials from 2006 onwards...
.
On 25 September 2006, Han became the acting Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee after the dismissal of Chen Liangyu
Chen Liangyu
Chen Liangyu was a politician of the People's Republic of China from the ruling Communist Party, and the disgraced CPC Shanghai Committee Secretary, or the city's first-in-charge....
over corruption probes. With what were believed to be stern messages sent by President Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao is the current Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. He has held the titles of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China since 2002, President of the People's Republic of China since 2003, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission since 2004, succeeding Jiang...
, Han led a municipal task force to crack down on the corruption in Shanghai, and has since then been believed to be a Hu loyalist. His tenure as the number one figure in Shanghai lasted a mere five months, when on 24 March 2007, he was replaced by Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping is a high ranking politician of the People's Republic of China. He currently serves as the top-ranking member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China, the country's Vice President, Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, President of the Central Party School and the...
, the Party Chief for the nearby province of Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
, as the next Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee. Han still keeps the position of the Mayor of Shanghai. He is longlisted for the 2008 World Mayor
World Mayor
World Mayor is a biennial award organized by The City Mayors Foundation since 2004. It intends to raise the profile of mayors worldwide, as well as honour those who have served their communities well and who have contributed to the well-being of cities, nationally and internationally...
award.