21 Facts About Ding Xuexiang

Ding Xuexiang was born on 13 September 1962 and is a Chinese politician who is currently the first-ranked vice premier of China and the sixth-ranked member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.

Ding Xuexiang served as the director of the CCP General Secretary's Office between 2013 and 2023 and the director of the CCP General Office between 2017 and 2023.

Ding Xuexiang was a member of the 19th Party Politburo, and a Secretary of the Party Secretariat between 2017 and 2022.

Ding Xuexiang was born in Nantong, Jiangsu province, on 13 September 1962.

Ding Xuexiang enrolled in college in 1978 at the age of 16, graduating from the Northeast Heavy Machinery Institute in Qinghuangdao, later renamed Yanshan University, in 1982 with a degree in engineering.

Ding Xuexiang got his first job at the Shanghai Research Institute of Materials in 1982, where he first served as a research fellow.

Ding Xuexiang joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1984, and became the Communist Youth League secretary at the SRIM that year.

Ding Xuexiang enrolled in the Fudan University School of Management in 1989, gaining a master's degree in science and management via part-time studies in 1994.

Ding Xuexiang moved into politics after obtaining his first cadre position, as the deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission, in 1999.

Ding Xuexiang became the head of Zhabei District of Shanghai in 2001.

Ding Xuexiang was elected to the Central Committee as an alternate member at the 18th Party Congress in November 2012.

Ding Xuexiang became the director of the CCP General Secretary's office in May 2013, responsible for aiding CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping.

In 2016, Ding Xuexiang became a deputy director of the CCP General Office.

Ding Xuexiang joined the Politburo and the Secretariat of the CCP in October 2017.

Ding Xuexiang succeeded Han Zheng as the first-ranking vice premier of China and leader of the Central Leading Group on Hong Kong and Macau Affairs in March 2023.

Ding Xuexiang's portfolio included development and reform, education, science and technology, finance, ecology and environment, statistics, and intellectual property.

In October 2023, Ding Xuexiang visited Shenzhen, where he paid a trip to DJI, local laboratories and Hetao, a tech cooperation zone with Hong Kong.

In September 2023, Ding Xuexiang delivered a pre-recorded video message to the opening ceremony of a two-day forum on the Belt and Road Initiative in Hong Kong.

In November 2023, Ding Xuexiang met about 150 youth representatives from Hong Kong and Macao for the first time in Beijing and conveyed President Xi's affection for young people.

Ding Xuexiang pledged to support youth development in Hong Kong with more "concrete work", including on study and job opportunities, starting up businesses and housing issues, addressing young people as the "new blood" for the nation's development.

In March 2024, Ding Xuexiang met with Hong Kong deputies at the National People's Congress, where he called for swiftly enacting the Article 23 legislation.