Wang Yang (politician)
Encyclopedia
Wang Yang is the current Secretary of the Guangdong
Committee of the Communist Party of China
, the southern Chinese province's top office. He served as the party chief of Chongqing
, an interior municipality, from 2005-2007. As the holder of one of the most important regional posts in China, Wang also holds a seat on the Politburo of the Communist Party of China
, the country's top ruling council. He is believed to be one of the emerging leaders of China's next generation of leadership
.
in 1975. He subsequently joined the local Party School as an instructor, before going on to study political economics at the dawn of Deng Xiaoping
's economic reforms at the Central Party School in 1979. He returned to his hometown as a party policy instructor before joining the local Communist Youth League
organization - where he would ascend to the provincial organization by 1984. He then moved on to work as the Deputy Director and Director of the Anhui Provincial Sports Bureau until 1988.
His first tenure with civil administration was in Tongling
, Anhui
, beginning in 1988. He would serve on the municipal administration as its deputy party chief, acting Mayor, and Mayor, while also concurrently attempting to earn a degree in political administration at the Central Party School. He would rise to become the provincial Governor's assistant the following year, and promoted to Vice-Governor of Anhui between 1993 and 1998. He was finally sent to work in the central government as the deputy head of the National Development and Planning Agency, and then as deputy secretary general of the State Council
between 2003 and 2005.
, a western interior municipality, from 2005 to 2007. Wang's track record in Chongqing earned him national attention, for his work of bringing a geographically remote and relatively underdeveloped region onto the international scene.
, and took on the post in November 2007. As the post is one of the most important regional leadership offices in China, he also earned a seat on the Communist Party's Politburo
, the country's top ruling council.
He is known as a reformer and has been instrumental in pushing the more liberalized Guangdong province towards greater economic and political freedoms. This has been part of a broader movement to make Shenzhen
a pioneer city in China's new economy. Amidst the Global financial crisis of 2008, Wang disagreed with the central government's policies on small and medium-sized businesses, remarking in controversy that they are "not productive and will eventually be eliminated by the market." He also made remarks such as "those businesses going bankrupt should go bankrupt". After a visit to the Pearl River Delta by Premier Wen Jiabao
, who was in favour of protecting small and medium-sized enterprises, there was little sign that the Wang-led Guangdong government would follow central government directives. A politically motivated Beijing was sensitive to this move.
In 2009, Wang wished to re-instate the May Day week long holiday in Guangdong. The holiday was removed from the calendar by central authorities a few years earlier. However, the decision was subsequently reversed by the central government.
.
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
Committee of 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...
, the southern Chinese province's top office. He served as the party chief of Chongqing
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
, an interior municipality, from 2005-2007. As the holder of one of the most important regional posts in China, Wang also holds a seat on 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...
, the country's top ruling council. He is believed to be one of the emerging leaders of China's next generation of leadership
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...
.
Early life
Between 1972 and 1976 he worked as a food processing factory hand before being promoted to supervisor. He joined the Communist Party of ChinaCommunist 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 1975. He subsequently joined the local Party School as an instructor, before going on to study political economics at the dawn of Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping was a Chinese politician, statesman, and diplomat. As leader of the Communist Party of China, Deng was a reformer who led China towards a market economy...
's economic reforms at the Central Party School in 1979. He returned to his hometown as a party policy instructor before joining the local 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...
organization - where he would ascend to the provincial organization by 1984. He then moved on to work as the Deputy Director and Director of the Anhui Provincial Sports Bureau until 1988.
His first tenure with civil administration was in Tongling
Tongling
Tongling is a prefecture-level city in southern Anhui province, People's Republic of China. A river port along the Yangtze River, Tongling borders Chaohu to the north, Wuhu to the east, Chizhou to the southwest and Anqing to the west....
, 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...
, beginning in 1988. He would serve on the municipal administration as its deputy party chief, acting Mayor, and Mayor, while also concurrently attempting to earn a degree in political administration at the Central Party School. He would rise to become the provincial Governor's assistant the following year, and promoted to Vice-Governor of Anhui between 1993 and 1998. He was finally sent to work in the central government as the deputy head of the National Development and Planning Agency, and then as deputy secretary general of the State Council
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...
between 2003 and 2005.
Chongqing
Wang served as the CPC party chief in ChongqingChongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
, a western interior municipality, from 2005 to 2007. Wang's track record in Chongqing earned him national attention, for his work of bringing a geographically remote and relatively underdeveloped region onto the international scene.
Guangdong
As the part of a party-wide reshuffle of regional leaders, Wang Yang was slated to become Party Secretary of Guangdong after 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...
, and took on the post in November 2007. As the post is one of the most important regional leadership offices in China, he also earned a seat on the Communist Party's Politburo
17th Politburo of the Communist Party of China
The 17th Politburo of the Communist Party of China was elected by the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on October 22, 2007.-Standing Committee members:#Hu Jintao#Wu Bangguo#Wen Jiabao#Jia Qinglin#Li Changchun#Xi Jinping#Li Keqiang...
, the country's top ruling council.
He is known as a reformer and has been instrumental in pushing the more liberalized Guangdong province towards greater economic and political freedoms. This has been part of a broader movement to make Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
a pioneer city in China's new economy. Amidst the Global financial crisis of 2008, Wang disagreed with the central government's policies on small and medium-sized businesses, remarking in controversy that they are "not productive and will eventually be eliminated by the market." He also made remarks such as "those businesses going bankrupt should go bankrupt". After a visit to the Pearl River Delta by 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...
, who was in favour of protecting small and medium-sized enterprises, there was little sign that the Wang-led Guangdong government would follow central government directives. A politically motivated Beijing was sensitive to this move.
In 2009, Wang wished to re-instate the May Day week long holiday in Guangdong. The holiday was removed from the calendar by central authorities a few years earlier. However, the decision was subsequently reversed by the central government.
External links
Biography of Wang Yang, Xinhua News AgencyXinhua News Agency
The Xinhua News Agency is the official press agency of the government of the People's Republic of China and the biggest center for collecting information and press conferences in the PRC. It is the largest news agency in the PRC, ahead of the China News Service...
.