12 Facts About Meng Xuenong

Meng Xuenong was the Vice Mayor of Beijing between 1993 and 2003, before being promoted to mayor for a brief interlude in 2003.

Meng Xuenong then worked as a low-profile functionary in the South-North Water Transfer Project, before making a political comeback as the Governor of Shanxi in 2007.

Meng Xuenong resigned that post a year into his term, following what was considered a botched response to the 2008 Shanxi mudslide by the provincial government.

In December 2009, Meng Xuenong was given a post on the body that manages the work of the directly-controlled organizations of the Communist Party's central committee.

Meng Xuenong has been a member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party since November 2002.

Meng Xuenong studied engineering at Beijing Normal University during the later stages of the Cultural Revolution before being assigned to Beijing's No 2 Motor Vehicle Plant.

Meng Xuenong joined the Chinese Communist Party in July 1972, rising through the ranks of the Beijing municipal Communist Youth League and the car industry.

Meng Xuenong then spent four years at the University of Science and Technology of China, alongside Qiang Wei, who had been a consistent colleague.

In January 2003, Meng Xuenong was appointed Mayor of Beijing; as mayor he held the title of Deputy Party Secretary of Beijing.

Meng Xuenong was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Shanxi Party Committee on August 30,2007 as part of a wider Party reshuffle, and then elected Vice Governor and acting Governor by the Shanxi Provincial People's Congress on 3 September.

Meng Xuenong is a member of the tuanpai faction of former Communist Youth League officials and has close personal ties to Party General secretary Hu Jintao.

Meng Xuenong said that his CYL experience helps him stay in touch with young people and remain open-minded.