Yu Zhengsheng

Yu Zhengsheng
俞正声
8th Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 March 2013
Deputy	Du Qinglin, others
Preceded by	Jia Qinglin
16th Communist Party Secretary of Shanghai
In office 27 October 2007 – 20 November 2012
Mayor	Han Zheng
Preceded by	Xi Jinping
Succeeded by	Han Zheng
Personal details
Born	April 1945 (age 71) Yan'an, China
Political party	Communist Party of China
Spouse(s)	Zhang Zhikai
Alma mater	Harbin Military Engineering Institute

Yu Zhengsheng
Simplified Chinese	俞正声
Traditional Chinese	俞正聲
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Yú Zhèngshēng

Yu Zhengsheng (Chinese: 俞正声; born April 1945) is a Chinese politician and one of the top leaders of the Communist Party of China. He is the Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a largely ceremonial political advisory body, and a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, China's de facto highest ruling body, since November 2012.

Prior to coming to prominence nationally, Yu served as the Communist Party Secretary of Hubei, and Party Secretary of Shanghai, one of China's most important regional offices. Yu became a member of the Politburo in November 2002.

Career

Yu Zhengsheng was born in the communist revolutionary heartland of Yan'an in 1945, the son of Yu Qiwei (better known as Huang Jing), a Communist revolutionary, and Fan Jin, a frontline journalist. Yu's family was originally from Shaoxing, Zhejiang province. He graduated from Harbin Military Academy of Engineering specializing in the design of automated missiles. In December 1968 he was sent to work in Zhangjiakou, Hebei. Until the mid-1980s his career concentration was in electronic engineering. In 1984, he was asked by Deng Xiaoping's son Deng Pufang to take on a leading role in the Fund for Disabled Persons.

In 1985, Yu was sent to Shandong to become Deputy Party Secretary of Yantai in Shandong province. In 1987 he was named mayor of Yantai at age 42. In 1992, he was named party chief of Qingdao and a member of the Shandong provincial Party Standing Committee; he was known to have released his salary income, housing situation, and gifts he received on television.

He failed to secure election to the Central Committee in 1992, subsequently being sent to become Party chief in Qingdao. Qingdao was approved as a sub-provincial city in 1997. Yu served as Deputy Minister of Construction when he was recalled back to Beijing in 1997, and a year later promoted to the Minister position. He remained in that position in Zhu Rongji's cabinet from 1998 to 2001. He became a member of the powerful Politburo of the Communist Party of China in November 2002, while serving as the party chief of Hubei. Yu was the only Hubei party chief since economic reforms began to hold a seat on the Politburo.

Following the 17th Party Congress, Yu became the party chief in Shanghai, replacing Xi Jinping. Prior to the 18th Party Congress, Yu was seen as a leading candidate for the Politburo Standing Committee. It was said that Yu edged out Li Yuanchao for membership on the leadership council at the eleventh hour due to internal voting and consultations.^[1]

Personal life

Yu is married to Zhang Zhikai (Chinese: 张志凯; pinyin: Zhāng Zhìkǎi), the daughter of Zhang Zhenhuan. They have a son. Yu was said to be friends with former leader Deng Xiaoping and his family, including Deng Xiaoping's son Deng Pufang. After the senior Deng left politics, Yu was said to have served as his family's proxy within the Chinese government.^[2] He is known to speak without relying on script, and is often called "Lao Yu" by people familiar with him.^[3]

Brother's defection

Yu's brother, Yu Qiangsheng, defected to the United States in 1985.^[2] After defecting, Qiangsheng informed the U.S. government that Larry Wu-Tai Chin, a retired CIA analyst, was actually a spy for the Chinese government. According to rumors reported by The Times of London, Yu Qiangsheng was assassinated by Chinese secret agents in Latin America after his defection and placement in witness protection.^[4]

References

1. "「最后一刻 俞正声顶替李源潮」". 23 November 2012.
2. Lim, Benjamin (19 June 2007). "China princeling emerges from defection scandal". Reuters. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
3. "俞正声人物特写：每天都会上网看新闻". 24 December 2012.
4. Sheridan, Michael (4 June 2012). "Beijing elite shaken by CIA spy scandal". The Times.

External links

• (Chinese) Biography of Yu Zhengsheng at xinhuanet.com