Chen Xi

Chen Xi
陈希
Executive Deputy Head of the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China
Incumbent
Assumed office April 2013
Head	Zhao Leji
Preceded by	Shen Yueyue
Personal details
Born	March 1953 (age 63) Putian, Fujian, China
Political party	Communist Party of China
Alma mater	Fuzhou University Tsinghua University

Chen Xi (Chinese: 陈希; born September 1953) is a Chinese politician currently serving as the executive deputy head of the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China (rank equivalent of minister). Chen is a member of the 18th Central Committee.

Life and career

Chen traces his ancestry to Putian, Fujian province, and was born in the provincial capital Fuzhou. He worked in his youth at a mechanics factory attached to Fuzhou University. Shortly after the resumption of higher education at the end of the Cultural Revolution, Chen was recommended to attend the prestigious Tsinghua University as a "Worker-Peasant-Soldier student", where he earned a bachelor's degree. At Tsinghua he was friends with Xi Jinping, who was also attending Tsinghua at the time.^[1]

Chen joined the Communist Party in November 1978. After graduating from Tsinghua he returned to Fuzhou University to become a lecturer. In September 1979 he headed back to Tsinghua where he completed a Masters of Science degree. He stayed at Tsinghua to work for the Communist Party and its affiliated Youth League as a political organizer. Between 1990 and 1992 he went on a stint at Stanford University as a visiting scholar. Beginning in August 1993, he became the deputy chief of the party organization at Tsinghua, becoming executive deputy chief two years later. In 2002 he became head of the Tsinghua party organization.

In November 2008, Chen became Vice Minister of Education, leaving his post at Tsinghua shortly thereafter.^[2] In September 2010, Chen was sent to Liaoning to serve as Deputy Communist Party Secretary of the province, where he served for a mere seven months.^[3] In April 2011 Chen became the head of the party branch and Vice Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), succeeding Deng Nan.^[4]

In April 2013, following the ascension of Xi Jinping to the posts of General Secretary and President, Chen left his post at CAST and was transferred to become executive deputy head of the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China.^[5] Chen is widely seen as a confidant and ally of Xi Jinping.^[3]

Chen was a member of the 16th and 17th Central Commissions for Discipline Inspection. He was, beginning in 2013, a member of the Central Leading Group for Inspection Work.

References

1. 周逸梅 (April 18, 2013). "港媒：中国科协党组书记陈希将任中组部副部长". Takungpao via Singtao Daily.
2. Zhou Yimei (November 19, 2008). "清华大学党委书记陈希调任教育部副部长". Jinghua Times via Xinhua. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
3. "陈希与习近平既是同窗更是同党（高新）". Radio Free Asia. April 30, 2013.
4. "中科协证实陈希接替邓楠任中国科协党组书记". Ifeng. May 5, 2011.
5. 申维辰任中国科协党组书记 陈希不再担任