31 Facts About Han Zheng

Han Zheng is a Chinese politician who since 2023 has served as the 11th vice president of China.

Han Zheng previously served as the first-ranking vice premier of China between 2018 and 2023, and as the seventh-ranking member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party between 2017 and 2022.

Han Zheng retired from the Politburo Standing Committee, as well as the broader Central Committee after the 20th CCP National Congress in October 2022.

At the 2023 National People's Congress in March 2023, Han Zheng was elected the vice president of China and a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress.

Han Zheng has served as president Xi's special representative at events such as the coronation of Charles III and Camilla in 2023 and the second inauguration of Donald Trump in 2025.

Han Zheng was born in Shanghai in April 1954, but traces his ancestry to Cixi, in neighboring Zhejiang province.

Han Zheng was a sent-down youth during the Cultural Revolution, working at a collective farm in Chongming County, Shanghai.

Han Zheng later worked at a warehouse of a lifting installation company, later working at the company's supply and marketing division.

Han Zheng additionally served as a deputy secretary of the Communist Youth League of China between 1975 and 1980.

Han Zheng then worked at the Shanghai Chemical Equipment Industry company in an administrative role between 1980 and 1982.

Han Zheng was the secretary of the CYLC committee at the Chemical Industry Bureau of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government between 1982 and 1986, and the deputy CCP secretary of the Shanghai School of Chemical Engineering between 1986 and 1987.

Han Zheng worked as the CCP secretary and deputy director of the Shanghai No 6 Rubber Shoes Factory between 1987 and 1988; during this time, he was praised by then Shanghai mayor Zhu Rongji.

Han Zheng was the CCP secretary and deputy director of the Dazhonghua Rubber Plant between 1988 and 1990.

In June 1990, Han Zheng officially entered the CYLC Shanghai Committee, and would rise to become its deputy secretary in charge of day-to-day work, then elevated to secretary in 1991.

Han Zheng focused on fixing the ecology of the district and expanding its green spaces.

Han Zheng then obtained a master's degree in international political economy from East China Normal University between 1991 and 1994 and earned the title of senior economist.

In July 1995, Han Zheng was named deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, during which he was made the deputy CCP secretary of the Municipal Comprehensive Economic Work Committee, the director of the City Planning Commission, and the director of the Securities Management Office.

Han Zheng joined the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party at the 16th Party Congress in 2002.

In 2006, Han Zheng became the acting CCP Committee Secretary of Shanghai after the dismissal of Chen Liangyu over corruption probes during the Shanghai pension scandal.

Yu Zhengsheng succeeded Xi as Shanghai Party Secretary, and Han worked for him for the next five years.

Han Zheng assumed the party secretary post in November 2012, shortly after the conclusion of the 18th CCP National Congress, and gained a seat on the 18th Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party.

Han Zheng was chosen to be a member of the 19th CCP Politburo Standing Committee, China's top decision-making body, at the first plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party on 25 October 2017.

Han Zheng succeeded Zhang Dejiang as the leader of the Central Coordination Group for Hong Kong and Macau Affairs in April 2018, making him the CCP's top leader in regards to Hong Kong and Macau affairs.

Han Zheng was elected as a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, the only departing PSC member to do so.

On 10 March 2023, Han Zheng was elected during the first session of the 14th NPC as the vice president of China, succeeding Wang Qishan.

Han Zheng was President Xi's special representative at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla in May 2023.

Han Zheng met with US secretary of state Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly that month.

In May 2024, Han Zheng met with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Harbin, where both Han Zheng and Putin attended the opening ceremony of 8th China-Russia expo.

Han Zheng attended the second inauguration of Donald Trump on 20 January 2025 as President Xi's special representative.

Han Zheng attended separate meetings with incoming US vice president JD Vance and Trump ally Elon Musk before the inauguration, where Han Zheng and each of the two reaffirmed this directive to promote agreement and stable relations between their respective countries.

Han Zheng is married to Wang Ming, who reportedly once served as a vice chair of the Shanghai Charity Foundation.