Wu Bangguo

Wu Bangguo is a People's Republic of China. He is currently chairman of the of the National People's Congress, a position which the media often refers to as "China's top legislator" and second in official rankings in the party.

Early life and political career

Wu was born in Feidong County, Anhui . He entered Tsinghua University in 1960, majoring in electron tube engineering at the Department of Radio Electronics, where he graduated in 1967. He subsequently was employed as a worker and technician at Shanghai's No. 3 Electronic Tube Factory, and then deputy chief and chief of the technical section.

Since 2003, he has served as the Chairman of the of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, ranking second in the of the Communist Party of China hierarchy. At the 11th National People's Congress, he was re-elected as Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee on 15 March 2008.

Wu was formerly vice premier under former Zhu Rongji, but his rocky relationship with Zhu reportedly ruled out his chance of becoming premier himself after the latter's departure from office.

Wu has seen his share of controversy when he visited Hong Kong and infamously said "Hong Kong will have as much power as Beijing wants it to and nothing more."

Health

In September 2007, Wu disappeared from national media for over twenty days, a sign that he has probably undergone medical treatment to what was speculated as cancer.

Career timeline

*1976-1978: Deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Shanghai No. 3; deputy director of the revolutionary committee, deputy factory director, deputy secretary of the Party committee of the factory, and director of the factory.

*1978-1979: Deputy manager of Shanghai Electronic Elements Company.

*1979-1981: Deputy manager of Shanghai Electron Tube Company.

*1981-1983: Deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Shanghai Meters, Instruments and Telecommunications Bureau.

*1983-1985: Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and secretary of the CPC Municipal Committee in Charge of Science and Technology.

*1985-1991: Deputy secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee.

*1991-1992: Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee.

*1992-1994: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee.

*1994-1995: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee.

*1995-1997: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and vice-premier of the State Council.

*1997-1998: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice-premier of the State Council.

*1998-1999: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, vice-premier of the State Council and secretary of the Work Committee of Large Enterprises of CPC Central Committee.

*1999-2002: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, vice-premier of the State Council, member of its Leading Party Member Group and secretary of the Central Work Committee of Large Enterprises.

*2002-: Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, vice-premier of the State Council, member of its Leading Party Member Group and secretary of the Work Committee of Large Enterprises of CPC Central Committee.