Li Zhanshu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Li Zhanshu
栗战书
Li in 2022
10th Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
In office 17 March 2018 – 10 March 2023
Vice Chairpersons	See list Wang Chen Cao Jianming Zhang Chunxian Shen Yueyue Ji Bingxuan Arken Imirbaki Wan Exiang Chen Zhu Wang Dongming Padma Choling Ding Zhongli Hao Mingjin Cai Dafeng Wu Weihua
Secretary-General	Yang Zhenwu
Preceded by	Zhang Dejiang
Succeeded by	Zhao Leji
Director of the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party
In office 31 August 2012 – 15 November 2017
Deputy	Ding Xuexiang Chen Shiju Meng Xiangfeng
General Secretary	Hu Jintao Xi Jinping
Preceded by	Ling Jihua
Succeeded by	Ding Xuexiang
Communist Party Secretary of Guizhou
In office 8 August 2010 – 18 July 2012
Governor	Zhao Kezhi
Preceded by	Shi Zongyuan
Succeeded by	Zhao Kezhi
Governor of Heilongjiang
In office 27 January 2008 – 27 August 2010
Preceded by	Zhang Zuoji
Succeeded by	Wang Xiankui
Personal details
Born	(1951-08-30) 30 August 1951 (age 73) Pingshan, Hebei, People's Republic of China
Political party	Chinese Communist Party (1975–present)
Spouse	Wang Jinfeng
Children	Li Qianxin (daughter) Li Duoxi (daughter)
Alma mater	Hebei Normal University, Harbin Institute of Technology
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	栗战书
Traditional Chinese	栗戰書
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Lì Zhànshū Wade–Giles Li Chan-shu IPA [lî ʈʂân.ʂú]

Li Zhanshu (born August 30, 1951) is a Chinese retired politician. He served as the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress from 2018 to 2023. This role is like being the head of China's main law-making body. From 2017 to 2022, he was also a very important member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. This group makes the biggest decisions in China.

Li started his political journey in rural areas of his home province, Hebei. He moved up through different important jobs. These included being the Communist Party leader in Xi'an, the Governor of Heilongjiang province, and the Party leader of Guizhou province. In 2012, he became the chief of the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party. After a big meeting called the 18th Party Congress, Li became a close advisor to China's top leader, Xi Jinping. Many people in the media see him as a key member of a group called "Xi Jinping Clique." This is one of the main political groups within the Chinese Communist Party.

Li Zhanshu's Early Life and Education

Li Zhanshu was born in Pingshan County, Hebei province on August 30, 1951. From 1968 to 1973, he was part of a program where young people worked in farms in his hometown. He studied at the Shijiazhuang Institute of Commerce from 1971 to 1973. He began his career as a regular office worker in Shijiazhuang. He later became a deputy director in the commercial bureau in 1971. In 1976, he worked as a clerk and head of the information section for the Shijiazhuang Party Committee. Li also studied at Hebei Normal University through night classes from 1980 to 1983.

Leadership Roles in Chinese Provinces

Working in Hebei Province

After finishing his studies, Li was promoted to lead the Party in Wuji County. Around the same time, Xi Jinping, who is now China's top leader, was leading a nearby county. In 1985, Li became a deputy party leader in Shijiazhuang. He later led the Hebei Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League of China. In 1988, he attended a special six-month program at the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party. He served as a deputy party leader in Chengde from 1990 to 1993. From 1993 to 1997, he was the secretary-general of the Hebei Provincial Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. He also studied economics through a program at the Central Party School from 1992 to 1994. Between 1997 and 1998, he worked as a deputy director for rural affairs.

Leadership in Shaanxi Province

In 1998, Li moved to Shaanxi province. There, he joined the provincial party committee and led its Organization Department. In January 2002, Li became the Party leader of Xi'an. In May of that year, he also became the deputy party chief of Shaanxi province. During his time in Xi'an, Li wanted the city to become the "best city in the western interior."

Serving Heilongjiang Province

In December 2003, Li became the Deputy Party Secretary of Heilongjiang. About a year later, he became the Vice Governor. At that time, some people thought Li was part of a group called the Tuanpai. These were officials who had worked in the Communist Youth League. On December 25, 2007, the Governor, Zhang Zuoji, stepped down. Li then became the acting Governor and was officially confirmed in January 2008.

Leading Guizhou Province

In August 2010, Li became the Party Secretary of Guizhou province. This was his first time holding the top job in a province. At that time, Li was not yet a full member of the Central Committee. It was quite rare for someone to be a provincial party chief without being a full member of this committee.

Role in the General Office

In July 2012, Li moved to Beijing to work as a top deputy director in the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party. He was being prepared to take over from Ling Jihua. He became the Director of the General Office two months later. Three months after that, Li was also made the Secretary of the Work Committee for Organs Directly Reporting to the Central Committee.

Li was seen as a "rising star." He was chosen to be part of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party in November 2012. This was at the 18th Party Congress. It was unusual for a General Office Chief to be a Politburo member. This showed that Li would have a lot of influence under Xi Jinping's leadership. Li was also named a Secretary of the Central Secretariat, which is a common role for the general office chief. In 2013, Li also became the chief of the General Office for the new National Security Commission.

Li played a big part in building a strong relationship between China and Russia. He was the first General Office chief since Mao Zedong's time to be so involved in foreign affairs. For example, in 2015, Li was sent as a special representative of Xi Jinping to meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Li was also part of the Chinese group at the 2015 Moscow Victory Day Parade. He often went with Xi Jinping to meetings with foreign leaders. This included Xi's visit to the United States in 2015.

Li was considered one of the most important people close to Xi Jinping. He was a possible candidate for the 19th Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. This is China's most important decision-making group, which started its work in 2017. Li was a substitute member of the 16th and 17th Central Committees. He was a full member of the 18th Central Committee.

Leading the Standing Committee

Li was chosen to be a member of the 19th Politburo Standing Committee. This is China's highest decision-making body. He was selected on October 25, 2017. On March 17, 2018, Li was elected as the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

Li represented China's top leader, Xi Jinping, at North Korea's 70th anniversary celebrations in 2018.

Li has said he follows a "three-nos" rule in his work. These are: "no messing around with other people, no playing games, no loafing on the job."

In November 2020, four pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong were removed from their positions. Li supported this decision. He said it was both "necessary" and "appropriate."

In September 2022, Li met with important Russian figures. He promised China's "understanding and full support" for Russia's view on the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. He stated that Russia had taken "necessary measures" and that China understood and was working with them. He also blamed the United States and NATO for "expanding NATO directly on Russia's doorstep." He said this threatened Russia's national security and its citizens' lives.

Li retired from the Politburo Standing Committee after the 20th Party Congress in October 2022. He retired from politics in March 2023. At that time, he stepped down as Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Zhao Leji took over his role.

Family Life

Li's great-uncle, Li Zaiwen (1908–1967), was a Vice Governor of Shandong province.

Li's wife is named Wang Jinfeng. She was born on October 30, 1953.

Li has two daughters:

• Li Qianxin (born June 20, 1982), also known as Naomi Li. She is active in Hong Kong. She is one of the Vice-Chairs of the Hua Jing Society. This group helps promote cooperation between mainland China and Hong Kong.
• Li Duoxi (born May 25, 1987), who works at Deutsche Bank.

Awards and Honors

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  Order of Friendship from Russia
  Order of Friendship (Russia, 2022)

Images for kids

• 

  "Li Zhanshu" in Simplified (top) and Traditional (bottom) Chinese characters

See also

In Spanish: Li Zhanshu para niños