Chen Muhua facts for kids

Chen Muhua (Chinese: 陈慕华; 1921 – 12 May 2011) was an important Chinese leader. She was a revolutionary and politician who held many high-level jobs. These included Vice Premier (a top government leader), State Councilor, and Minister of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade. She also led the National Family Planning Commission, was the Governor of China's central bank (People's Bank of China), and was Chairwoman of the All-China Women's Federation. She was one of the few women to join the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party, which is China's main decision-making group.

Early Life and Education

Chen Muhua was born in 1921 in Qingtian County, Zhejiang Province, China. This was during a time when China was called the Republic of China. Her uncle, who was an official in the Kuomintang air force, helped her finish high school.

However, Chen Muhua believed in the Communist ideas. In 1938, when the Second Sino-Japanese War began, she went to Yan'an. This was the main base for the Communists during the war. She told her mother she would be back in six months. But she could not return home until 1945, after the war ended. By then, her mother had passed away.

In Yan'an, Chen Muhua studied military science at the Counter-Japanese Military and Political University. She also joined the Chinese Communist Party. Her teachers included famous leaders like Zhu De and Chen Yun. During a difficult time called the Yan'an Rectification Movement, she faced many investigations. This was because of her uncle's connection to the Kuomintang. Even when she was pregnant, the investigations continued. She had to give away her newborn daughter in 1943. The investigations only stopped when Zhou Enlai, another top leader, stepped in to help her. Later, during the Chinese Civil War, she worked in various roles in the Rehe Military Region.

Important Roles in China's Government

After the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, Chen Muhua worked in economic planning. In the 1950s, she led offices for railway and long-term planning. These were part of the State Planning Commission. In the 1960s, she worked in foreign economic relations. Here, she managed China's help to countries in Africa.

During the Cultural Revolution, a challenging political period, Chen faced unfair criticism. This was partly because she had suggested that officials dealing with other countries should learn foreign languages. There were also false rumors about her family connections. Her brother sadly passed away due to persecution in Heilongjiang Province.

In 1970, Chen Muhua was able to return to important work. She became the Deputy Minister of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade. She reported directly to Premier Zhou Enlai.

In 1978, Chen became a Vice Premier. After 1982, she was also a State Councilor. These were the highest government positions a woman had held at that time. When China started its family planning policy in the early 1980s, she was put in charge of it. She also served as Minister of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade. In this role, she helped China's exports grow a lot.

In 1985, she was chosen to be the Governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC). This is China's central bank. Under her leadership, China joined the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 1986. She also served on the boards of the ADB and the African Development Bank. After leaving the PBOC in 1988, she became the chairwoman of the All-China Women's Federation.

Chen Muhua was an alternate member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party. This meant she was part of China's top decision-making group. She was one of the few women to achieve this. Other women like Jiang Qing, Ye Qun, and Deng Yingchao were also Politburo members. However, they were wives of top leaders and did not hold the same executive government jobs as Chen Muhua.

Her Family Life

In 1940, Chen Muhua married Zhong Yi in Yan'an. He was a graduate of Harbin Institute of Technology. Zhong Yi was a military commander in the 1960s but retired early due to health issues. They had four daughters. As mentioned earlier, she had to give away her second newborn daughter in 1943 during a difficult time. After 1949, Chen spent many years looking for this daughter. They were finally reunited in 1975.

Later Years and Legacy

Chen Muhua passed away on May 12, 2011, in Beijing, at the age of 90. Many important leaders, including Hu Jintao and members of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, attended her funeral. She was remembered as an "excellent party member" and a "long-tested fighter." She was also praised as an "outstanding leader" in economic affairs and for her work with women and children. She was buried at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery.