Hou Zongbin facts for kids

Hou Zongbin (born January 1929, died November 14, 2017) was an important Chinese politician. He held several high-level jobs in the government. He was the Governor of Shaanxi Province and later the top leader (Communist Party Secretary) of Henan Province. He also worked in a special group that helped keep government officials honest.

Early Life and First Steps in Politics

Hou Zongbin was born in Nanhe County, which is in Hebei Province, China. This happened in January 1929.

He joined the Chinese Communist Revolution in October 1945. This was a big movement that changed China. He then became a member of the Chinese Communist Party in June 1946.

In 1949, he moved south with the People's Liberation Army. This army had won the revolution. Hou Zongbin started working as a local official in Cili County, Hunan Province. He was later promoted to a higher role there.

Working in Different Provinces

After 1953, Hou Zongbin worked in Xiangtan, Hunan. Later, he moved to Gansu Province. There, he became the head of the Lanzhou Electric Machinery Factory.

In 1983, he was chosen to be the Deputy Governor of Gansu Province. Three years later, he became the Deputy Party Secretary of Gansu. This meant he was one of the top leaders in the province.

Leading Shaanxi Province

In 1987, Hou Zongbin was appointed to a new role. He became the Deputy Party Secretary and Acting Governor of Shaanxi Province. This province was next to Gansu. In January 1988, he officially became the Governor of Shaanxi.

On April 22, 1989, a large gathering happened in Xi'an. This is the capital city of Shaanxi. About 40,000 students and citizens were there. Hou Zongbin arrived to try and manage the situation. Later that evening, some people caused damage by burning buildings and cars.

Top Leader in Henan and National Role

In March 1990, Hou Zongbin became the Communist Party Secretary of Henan Province. This is the highest political position in a Chinese province.

In October 1992, he was chosen for a very important national job. He became the Deputy Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. This group works to prevent corruption among government officials.

In March 1998, he took on another national role. He became the Chair of the Internal Affairs and Judicial Committee. This committee is part of the 9th National People's Congress.

Hou Zongbin was also a member of important national committees. These were the 13th (from 1982 to 1987) and 14th (from 1987 to 1992) Central Committees of the Chinese Communist Party.

Retirement and Later Years

Hou Zongbin retired from his official duties in December 2003. After retiring, he spent his time practicing Chinese calligraphy. This is the art of beautiful writing. He even had several exhibitions to show his artwork.

In August 2017, Hou Zongbin made a public statement. He supported the anti-corruption efforts of General Secretary Xi Jinping.

Hou Zongbin passed away on November 14, 2017, in Beijing. He was 88 years old. He was buried at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery. This is a special place where important people are laid to rest.