Liu Yandong facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Liu Yandong
刘延东
Liu in 2016
Vice Premier of China
In office March 16, 2013 – March 19, 2018 Serving with Zhang Gaoli, Wang Yang, Ma Kai
Premier	Li Keqiang
State Councilor of China
In office March 17, 2008 – March 16, 2013 Serving with Liang Guanglie, Ma Kai, Meng Jianzhu, Dai Bingguo
Premier	Wen Jiabao
Head of the United Front Work Department
In office December 5, 2002 – December 2, 2007
General Secretary	Hu Jintao
Preceded by	Wang Zhaoguo
Succeeded by	Du Qinglin
Personal details
Born	November 1945 (age 79) Nantong County, Jiangsu
Nationality	Chinese
Political party	Chinese Communist Party
Alma mater	Tsinghua University
Signature

Liu Yandong is a retired Chinese politician. She served as a Vice Premier of China, which is a very high-ranking position in the Chinese government. She was also a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party, a powerful group that makes important decisions for the country. Liu Yandong was one of the highest-ranked female political figures in China during her time in office.

Biography

Early Life and Education

Liu Yandong was born in November 1945 in Nantong County, Jiangsu, China. Her father, Liu Ruilong, was an early leader in the Communist revolutionary movement.

In 1964, Liu Yandong began studying at Tsinghua University, a very famous university in China. She graduated in 1970 with a degree in chemistry. While she was in college, she also worked as a political instructor.

Starting Her Career

After finishing university, Liu Yandong started working at a chemical factory in Tangshan, an industrial city. In 1980, she moved to Beijing to work for the Communist Party organization. The next year, she became a deputy Party Secretary in Chaoyang District.

In 1982, Liu Yandong joined the Communist Youth League. This is an organization for young people that is connected to the Communist Party. She worked there for nine years and met future important leaders like Hu Jintao. During this time, she also led the All-China Youth Federation, a national youth group.

Working in Government

In 1991, Liu Yandong started working at the United Front Work Department. This department's job is to work with non-Communist groups and people to make sure they support the Communist Party's goals. While working there, she continued her education and earned master's and doctorate degrees from Renmin University and Jilin University.

Becoming a Top Leader

From 2002 to 2007, Liu Yandong led the United Front Work Department. In 2002, she also became a Vice Chair of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, another important political body.

Because she had worked closely with Hu Jintao and came from the Communist Youth League, she was chosen to join the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party in 2007. The Politburo is a small group of top leaders who make major decisions for China. At that time, she was the only woman on the Politburo and the highest-ranked female politician in the country.

In 2008, she was appointed as a State Councilor. This role involves advising the Premier and helping to manage government affairs. She also helped organize the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games.

In 2012, Liu Yandong was re-elected to the Politburo. She was the first woman since Deng Yingchao to serve two terms in this powerful group. A few months later, in 2013, she became a Vice Premier of China in the government led by Li Keqiang. As Vice Premier, she was in charge of important areas like health, education, and sports. She also led the group working on health care reform. Liu Yandong retired from politics in 2018.

Personal Life

Liu Yandong is married. In 2009, Stony Brook University in the United States gave her an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

Images for kids

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  Liu Yandong with the President of Israel Reuven Rivlin in March 2016.

See also

• Tsinghua clique