Li Keqiang
Encyclopedia
Li Keqiang is the First-ranking Vice-Premier
and deputy Party secretary
of the State Council of the People's Republic of China
, the seventh ranked member of the Politburo Standing Committee, the People's Republic of China
's de facto highest decision-making body. As Premier Wen Jiabao
's top lieutenant, Li's official portfolio includes economic development, price controls
, finance, climate change
, and macroeconomic management.
Li rose through the ranks of the Communist Youth League
. From 1998 to 2004, Li served as the Governor of Henan and the province's CPC party chief, and then the Liaoning party chief
, an office that made him first-in-charge in that province. Li is speculated as the likely successor to Wen Jiabao
as Premier
in the "fifth generation
" (Xi-Li Administration
) of CPC leadership.
, Anhui
on 1 July 1955. His father was a local official in Anhui. Li graduated from high school in 1974, during the Cultural Revolution
, and was sent for rural labour in Fengyang County
, Anhui, where he eventually joined the Communist Party of China
and made his way to becoming the party head of the local production team
. He was awarded with the honour of Outstanding Individual in the Study of Mao Zedong Thought during this time.
He refused his father's offer of grooming him for the local county's party leadership and entered the School of Law at Peking University
, where he received his LLB and became the President of the University's Student Council. He would go on to acquire a PhD
in Economics
. In 1980 he became the Communist Youth League Secretary at Peking University. He entered the top leadership of the Communist Youth League
(CYL) in 1982 as a member of its Secretariat, and has worked closely with current General Secretary Hu Jintao
, who also rose through the ranks of the CYL, ever since. Li became the organization's General Secretary in 1993, and served until 1998. He is a representative member of the first generation to have risen from the CYL leadership.
when appointed to the position of Governor of Henan
, one of China's most populous provinces, in June 1998, at the age of 43. Knowing the complicated situation Henan
was in, and the issues associated with networking in the province, Li consciously left his family in Beijing
to head to Zhengzhou
alone. In addition, according to provincial government officials working with him at the time, Li refused to participate in any banquets or large fancy events not related to government activities. During his time as governor a public sense of his ‘bad luck’ grew due to the occurrence of three major fires in the province.
He is known to be outspoken, and led economic development
in the central province, transforming the poor inland region into an attractive area for investment
. Li did not waste time pursuing superficial projects, but rather trekked all regions of Henan trying to search for a comprehensive solution to the province's growing problems. Henan jumped in national GDP rankings from 28th in the early 1990s to 18th in 2004, when Li left Henan. However,he was unable to control the widespread of AIDS in the province during his governing, which has been proved to be disastrous.
He was transferred to work as the CPC Committee Secretary
in Liaoning
in December 2004. In Liaoning he is known for the "Five-points to one Line" project, where he linked up Dalian
and Dandong
, as well as a series of other ports
into a comprehensive network.
proved correct when he was elected to the Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) in October 2007. He was succeeded in his provincial post by Governor Zhang Wenyue
. Li has been touted as a possible successor to Hu Jintao
, whose second term as General Secretary, expected to be his last, will end in 2012. At the 2008 National People's Congress
, he was elected Vice-Premier, first in rank. This position makes it seem more likely that he will succeed Premier Wen Jiabao
. As a result of this it is considered that he has lost out to Xi Jinping
in the internal power struggle.
Since his ascendancy to the PSC, Li has taken on the most important portfolios in the Chinese government
, ostensibly being groomed for his upcoming premiership. Li's first major appearance internationally was at the 2010 World Economic Forum
in Davos, Switzerland. The event was seen as an "acid test" for Li, whereby he succinctly presented China's long-term vision for development in front of world business and political leaders. In particular, Li briefed the WEF on China's commitment to sustainable development
, green energy, decrease the income gap, and the modernization of key strategic industries. While reiterating China's commitment to peaceful development and its focus in increasing domestic demand in the face of external pressures during the global financial crisis, Li also warned against protectionism
, saying "opening up can be both bilateral and multilateral... in this sense, one plus one is more often than not bigger than two." He also touched upon the importance of international development
, and international financial reform
. He called for a global governance structure that was "more reflective of the changes in the global political and economic landscape."
In February 2010, Li gave a speech to ministerial
and provincial-level leaders about the importance of changing the economic structure of the country to be better poised for future growth. The speech was published with minor omissions in the June 1 issue of Qiushi
, the Communist Party's political theory publication. Li said that China has come to a historical juncture whereby a change in the economic structure must take place for the country to continue its path of growth. Li particularly emphasized the need to boost domestic consumption
, and said that urbanization
is crucial in this phase. Li also emphasized that China should be moving towards a more middle class
-oriented society with an "olive"-shaped wealth distribution, with the majority of the country's population and wealth belonging to the middle class.
He has also reiterated the importance of industrialization, urbanization
and agricultural
modernization
in China in order to improve its competitiveness
, food security
, energy security
, affordable housing
and healthcare.
In 2011 Li went to Hong Kong as a part of a three day visit. By the third day the Hong Kong 818 incident
caused many issues at the Hong Kong University.
in Beijing
. His father-in-law was once the vice-secretary of the Communist Youth League Central Committee.
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Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China
The Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China is a high-ranking executive assistant to the Premier. There is a First-ranking Vice Premier , sometimes called Executive Vice Premier wrongly by the non-official media. It is an informal title and takes over duties of the...
and deputy Party secretary
Party chief of the Communist Party of China
In the Politics of the People's Republic of China, a party chief , variously called a party boss, and officially termed the Communist Party Committee Secretary for a certain region, is the leader of the local Communist Party of China division, and in most cases, the de facto first-in-charge of its...
of the State Council of the People's Republic of China
State Council of the People's Republic of China
The State Council of the People's Republic of China , which is largely synonymous with the Central People's Government after 1954, is the chief administrative authority of the People's Republic of China. It is chaired by the Premier and includes the heads of each governmental department and agency...
, the seventh ranked member of the Politburo Standing Committee, the People's Republic of China
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...
's de facto highest decision-making body. As Premier Wen Jiabao
Wen Jiabao
Wen Jiabao is the sixth and current Premier and Party secretary of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, serving as China's head of government and leading its cabinet. In his capacity as Premier, Wen is regarded as the leading figure behind China's economic policy...
's top lieutenant, Li's official portfolio includes economic development, price controls
Price controls
Price controls are governmental impositions on the prices charged for goods and services in a market, usually intended to maintain the affordability of staple foods and goods, and to prevent price gouging during shortages, or, alternatively, to insure an income for providers of certain goods...
, finance, climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
, and macroeconomic management.
Li rose through the ranks of the Communist Youth League
Communist Youth League
The Communist Youth League of China also known as the China Youth League is a youth movement of the People's Republic of China for youth between the ages of fourteen and twenty-eight, run by Communist Party of China. The league is organized on the party pattern. Its leader is its First Secretary...
. From 1998 to 2004, Li served as the Governor of Henan and the province's CPC party chief, and then the Liaoning party chief
Politics of Liaoning
The politics of Liaoning Province in the People's Republic of China is structured in a single party-government system like all other governing institutions in mainland China....
, an office that made him first-in-charge in that province. Li is speculated as the likely successor to Wen Jiabao
Wen Jiabao
Wen Jiabao is the sixth and current Premier and Party secretary of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, serving as China's head of government and leading its cabinet. In his capacity as Premier, Wen is regarded as the leading figure behind China's economic policy...
as Premier
Premier of the People's Republic of China
The Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China , sometimes also referred to as the "Prime Minister" informally, is the Leader of the State Council of the People's Republic of China , who is the head of government and holds the highest-ranking of the Civil service of the...
in the "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...
" (Xi-Li Administration
Xi-Li Administration
The Xi-Li Administration is the name given to the Chinese leadership that will succeed Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao, whose official start date will be 2012...
) of CPC leadership.
Early life
Li Keqiang was born in Dingyuan CountyDingyuan County
Dingyuan County is a county of Anhui Province, China. It is under the administration of Chuzhou city....
, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
on 1 July 1955. His father was a local official in Anhui. Li graduated from high school in 1974, during the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
, and was sent for rural labour in Fengyang County
Fengyang County
Fengyang County is a county of Anhui Province, China. It is under the administration of Chuzhou prefecture-level city.-Historical sites:During the Xia, Shang and early Zhou dynasties, the Dongyi peoples inhabited this area and were collectively known as the Huaiyi after the Huai River...
, Anhui, where he eventually joined the Communist Party of China
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...
and made his way to becoming the party head of the local production team
Production team (China)
A production team was formerly the basic accounting and farm production unit in the people's commune system in People's Republic of China from 1958 to 1984....
. He was awarded with the honour of Outstanding Individual in the Study of Mao Zedong Thought during this time.
He refused his father's offer of grooming him for the local county's party leadership and entered the School of Law at Peking University
Peking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
, where he received his LLB and became the President of the University's Student Council. He would go on to acquire a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
. In 1980 he became the Communist Youth League Secretary at Peking University. He entered the top leadership of the Communist Youth League
Communist Youth League
The Communist Youth League of China also known as the China Youth League is a youth movement of the People's Republic of China for youth between the ages of fourteen and twenty-eight, run by Communist Party of China. The league is organized on the party pattern. Its leader is its First Secretary...
(CYL) in 1982 as a member of its Secretariat, and has worked closely with current General Secretary 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...
, who also rose through the ranks of the CYL, ever since. Li became the organization's General Secretary in 1993, and served until 1998. He is a representative member of the first generation to have risen from the CYL leadership.
Provincial tenures
Li became China's youngest governorGovernor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
when appointed to the position of Governor of Henan
Politics of Henan
The Politics of Henan Province in the People's Republic of China is structured in a dual party-government system like all other governing institutions in mainland China.The Governor of Henan is the highest ranking official in the People's Government of Henan...
, one of China's most populous provinces, in June 1998, at the age of 43. Knowing the complicated situation Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
was in, and the issues associated with networking in the province, Li consciously left his family in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
to head to Zhengzhou
Zhengzhou
Zhengzhou , is the capital and largest city of Henan province in north-central China. A prefecture-level city, it also serves as the political, economic, technological, and educational centre of the province, as well as a major transportation hub for Central China...
alone. In addition, according to provincial government officials working with him at the time, Li refused to participate in any banquets or large fancy events not related to government activities. During his time as governor a public sense of his ‘bad luck’ grew due to the occurrence of three major fires in the province.
He is known to be outspoken, and led economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
in the central province, transforming the poor inland region into an attractive area for investment
Investment
Investment has different meanings in finance and economics. Finance investment is putting money into something with the expectation of gain, that upon thorough analysis, has a high degree of security for the principal amount, as well as security of return, within an expected period of time...
. Li did not waste time pursuing superficial projects, but rather trekked all regions of Henan trying to search for a comprehensive solution to the province's growing problems. Henan jumped in national GDP rankings from 28th in the early 1990s to 18th in 2004, when Li left Henan. However,he was unable to control the widespread of AIDS in the province during his governing, which has been proved to be disastrous.
He was transferred to work as the CPC Committee Secretary
Politics of Liaoning
The politics of Liaoning Province in the People's Republic of China is structured in a single party-government system like all other governing institutions in mainland China....
in Liaoning
Liaoning
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the northeast of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "辽" , a name taken from the Liao River that flows through the province. "Níng" means "peace"...
in December 2004. In Liaoning he is known for the "Five-points to one Line" project, where he linked up Dalian
Dalian
Dalian is a major city and seaport in the south of Liaoning province, Northeast China. It faces Shandong to the south, the Yellow Sea to the east and the Bohai Sea to the west and south. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, Dalian is the southernmost city of Northeast China and China's...
and Dandong
Dandong
Dandong , previously known as Andong and Antung, is a city in Liaoning Province, Northeast China. It lies on the border between China and North Korea, which is marked by the Yalu River, and is the largest border city in China. Also, to the southwest of the city, the river flows into Korea Bay...
, as well as a series of other ports
Ports of China
China's coastal ports enable the transportation of coal, containers, imported iron ore, and grain; roll-on-roll-off operations between mainland and islands; and deep-water access to the sea....
into a comprehensive network.
National politics
Predictions he would eventually advance to the national level at the 17th Party Congress17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China
The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held in Beijing, China, at the Great Hall of the People from 15 to 21 October 2007. The Congress marked significant shift in the political direction of the country as CPC General Secretary Hu Jintao solidified his position of leadership...
proved correct when he was elected to the Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) in October 2007. He was succeeded in his provincial post by Governor Zhang Wenyue
Zhang Wenyue
Zhang Wenyue , was the Communist Party of China Liaoning provincial committee Secretary, succeeding his colleague Li Keqiang from October 2007.In 2010 he retired and is succeeded by Wang Min.-Biography:...
. Li has been touted as a possible successor to 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...
, whose second term as General Secretary, expected to be his last, will end in 2012. At the 2008 National People's Congress
2008 National People's Congress
The 1st Plenary Session of the 11th National People's Congress held its annual meeting from March 5 to March 18, 2008 in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, in conjunction with the 2008 CPPCC....
, he was elected Vice-Premier, first in rank. This position makes it seem more likely that he will succeed Premier Wen Jiabao
Wen Jiabao
Wen Jiabao is the sixth and current Premier and Party secretary of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, serving as China's head of government and leading its cabinet. In his capacity as Premier, Wen is regarded as the leading figure behind China's economic policy...
. As a result of this it is considered that he has lost out to 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...
in the internal power struggle.
Since his ascendancy to the PSC, Li has taken on the most important portfolios in the Chinese government
Government of the People's Republic of China
All power within the government of the People's Republic of China is divided among three bodies: the People's Republic of China, State Council, and the People's Liberation Army . This article is concerned with the formal structure of the state, its departments and their responsibilities...
, ostensibly being groomed for his upcoming premiership. Li's first major appearance internationally was at the 2010 World Economic Forum
World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
in Davos, Switzerland. The event was seen as an "acid test" for Li, whereby he succinctly presented China's long-term vision for development in front of world business and political leaders. In particular, Li briefed the WEF on China's commitment to sustainable development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
, green energy, decrease the income gap, and the modernization of key strategic industries. While reiterating China's commitment to peaceful development and its focus in increasing domestic demand in the face of external pressures during the global financial crisis, Li also warned against protectionism
Protectionism
Protectionism is the economic policy of restraining trade between states through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, restrictive quotas, and a variety of other government regulations designed to allow "fair competition" between imports and goods and services produced domestically.This...
, saying "opening up can be both bilateral and multilateral... in this sense, one plus one is more often than not bigger than two." He also touched upon the importance of international development
International development
International development or global development is a concept that lacks a universally accepted definition, but it is most used in a holistic and multi-disciplinary context of human development — the development of greater quality of life for humans...
, and international financial reform
Global financial system
The global financial system is the financial system consisting of institutions and regulators that act on the international level, as opposed to those that act on a national or regional level...
. He called for a global governance structure that was "more reflective of the changes in the global political and economic landscape."
In February 2010, Li gave a speech to ministerial
Ministries of China
-List of ministries of the People's Republic of China:There are 22 ministries in the State Council of the People's Republic of China.-Other agencies under the State Council:-See also:*State Council of the People's Republic of China-External links:**...
and provincial-level leaders about the importance of changing the economic structure of the country to be better poised for future growth. The speech was published with minor omissions in the June 1 issue of Qiushi
Qiushi
Qiushi is a bi-monthly political theory periodical published by the Central Party School and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China...
, the Communist Party's political theory publication. Li said that China has come to a historical juncture whereby a change in the economic structure must take place for the country to continue its path of growth. Li particularly emphasized the need to boost domestic consumption
Consumption (economics)
Consumption is a common concept in economics, and gives rise to derived concepts such as consumer debt. Generally, consumption is defined in part by comparison to production. But the precise definition can vary because different schools of economists define production quite differently...
, and said that urbanization
Urbanization
Urbanization, urbanisation or urban drift is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. The United Nations projected that half of the world's population would live in urban areas at the end of 2008....
is crucial in this phase. Li also emphasized that China should be moving towards a more middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
-oriented society with an "olive"-shaped wealth distribution, with the majority of the country's population and wealth belonging to the middle class.
He has also reiterated the importance of industrialization, urbanization
Urbanization
Urbanization, urbanisation or urban drift is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. The United Nations projected that half of the world's population would live in urban areas at the end of 2008....
and agricultural
Agriculture in China
Agriculture is an important economic sector of China, employing over 300 million farmers. China ranks first in worldwide farm output, primarily producing rice, wheat, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, cotton, oilseed, pork, and fish.-History:...
modernization
Modernization
In the social sciences, modernization or modernisation refers to a model of an evolutionary transition from a 'pre-modern' or 'traditional' to a 'modern' society. The teleology of modernization is described in social evolutionism theories, existing as a template that has been generally followed by...
in China in order to improve its competitiveness
Competitiveness
Competitiveness is a comparative concept of the ability and performance of a firm, sub-sector or country to sell and supply goods and/or services in a given market...
, food security
Food security
Food security refers to the availability of food and one's access to it. A household is considered food-secure when its occupants do not live in hunger or fear of starvation. According to the World Resources Institute, global per capita food production has been increasing substantially for the past...
, energy security
Energy security
Energy security is a term for an association between national security and the availability of natural resources for energy consumption. Access to cheap energy has become essential to the functioning of modern economies. However, the uneven distribution of energy supplies among countries has led...
, affordable housing
Affordable housing
Affordable housing is a term used to describe dwelling units whose total housing costs are deemed "affordable" to those that have a median income. Although the term is often applied to rental housing that is within the financial means of those in the lower income ranges of a geographical area, the...
and healthcare.
In 2011 Li went to Hong Kong as a part of a three day visit. By the third day the Hong Kong 818 incident
Hong Kong 818 incident
The Hong Kong 818 incident was a case of alleged civil rights violations that occurred on 18 August 2011 at Hong Kong University during a visit by Li Keqiang, the Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China. His arrival at the school led to a lock-down and complete takeover of the school by...
caused many issues at the Hong Kong University.
Personal life
Li is married to Cheng Hong, a professor at Capital University of Economics and BusinessCapital University of Economics and Business
Capital University of Economics and Business is a university in Beijing, People's Republic of China. The main campus of the university is located in Hongmiao in the Chaoyang District...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. His father-in-law was once the vice-secretary of the Communist Youth League Central Committee.
External links
- 中国政治明星李克强甩掉河南“穷帽子”
- A Louie & Associates Articles: President Hu's Top 4 Aides (2007)
- 胡錦濤愛將李克強的仕途和足跡
- 李克强出身非平民，成长靠恩师
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