Ding Xuexiang | |
|---|---|
丁薛祥 | |
.jpg) Ding in 2024 | |
| Vice Premier of China | |
| Assumed office 12 March 2023 | |
| Premier | Li Qiang |
| Director of theCentral Science and Technology Commission | |
| Assumed office 12 March 2023 | |
| Director of the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party | |
| In office 15 November 2017 – March 2023 | |
| Deputy | Meng Xiangfeng (executive) |
| General Secretary | Xi Jinping |
| Preceded by | Li Zhanshu |
| Succeeded by | Cai Qi |
| Director of theOffice of the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party | |
| In office May 2013 – March 2023 | |
| General Secretary | Xi Jinping |
| Preceded by | Chen Shiju |
| Succeeded by | Han Shiming |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1962-09-13)13 September 1962 (age 63) |
| Political party | Chinese Communist Party |
| Children | 1 son |
| Alma mater | |
| Cabinet | Li Qiang Government |
Ding Xuexiang[a] (born 13 September 1962) is a Chinese politician who is currently thefirst-ranked vice premier of China and the sixth-ranked member of thePolitburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.
Considered a close confidant ofCCP general secretaryXi Jinping, Ding served as Xi's staff during his tenure inShanghai, then followed him toBeijing. He served as the director of theCCP General Secretary's Office between 2013 and 2023 and thedirector of the CCP General Office between 2017 and 2023. He was also a member of the19th Party Politburo, and a Secretary of theParty Secretariat between 2017 and 2022.
Ding Xuexiang was born inNantong,Jiangsu province, on 13 September 1962. He enrolled in college in 1978 at the age of 16, graduating from the Northeast Heavy Machinery Institute inQinghuangdao, later renamedYanshan University, in 1982 with a degree in engineering.[1]
Ding got his first job at the Shanghai Research Institute of Materials (SRIM) in 1982, where he first served as a research fellow. He joined theChinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1984, and also became theCommunist Youth League secretary at the SRIM that year. In 1988, he became the director of the institute's General Office and Propaganda Department, later becoming the director of the No. 9 Department in 1992. He enrolled in the Fudan University School of Management in 1989, gaining a master's degree in science and management via part-time studies in 1994.[2] In 1994, he became a deputy director of the institute, and eventually became its director and Party secretary in 1996, serving in those positions until 1999.[1]
Ding moved into politics after obtaining his firstcadre position, as the deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission, in 1999.[3] He became the head ofZhabei District of Shanghai in 2001. In 2004, he was appointed as the deputy director of the Organization Department of theShanghai Municipal Party Committee and the director of the Personnel Bureau of theShanghai Municipal People's Government.[1] In 2006, he became the deputy secretary-general as well as the director of the General Office of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee.[1]
In 2007, he was promoted to become the secretary-general, and became a member of the Municipal Standing Committee. In this position, he served as the chief of staff for four Shanghai Party secretaries;Cheng Liangyu,Han Zheng,Xi Jinping, andYu Zhengsheng. In 2012, he became the secretary of the Political and Legal Committee of the Municipal Party Committee.[4] Ding was elected to the Central Committee as an alternate member at the18th Party Congress in November 2012.[5]
Ding became the director of theCCP General Secretary's office in May 2013, responsible for aiding CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping. In 2016, Ding became a deputy director of theCCP General Office.[1] Ding joined thePolitburo and theSecretariat of the CCP in October 2017. In November 2017, he became the director of the CCP General Office while retaining the post ofCCP General Secretary's office director (chief of staff).[6][5]
Following thefirst plenary session of the20th CCP Central Committee in October 2022, Ding was elevated to theCCP Politburo Standing Committee, the top decision-making body in China.[7] Upon his nomination,Voice of America described Ding as "loyal and strong in coordination, but lacking experience in macroeconomic management and other people's livelihood affairs".[8]
Ding succeededHan Zheng as thefirst-ranking vice premier of China and leader of theCentral Leading Group on Hong Kong and Macau Affairs in March 2023.[9] His portfolio includeddevelopment and reform,[10]education,[11]science and technology,[12] finance,[13]ecology and environment,[14]statistics,[15] andintellectual property.[16] In the same month, he attended theChina Development Forum.[17] In May 2023, he attended the opening ceremony of theZhongguancun Forum in Beijing, where he called for China to speed up technological innovation.[18] In October 2023, Ding visited Shenzhen, where he paid a trip toDJI, local laboratories and Hetao, a tech cooperation zone with Hong Kong.[19] In June 2024, he was revealed to be the leader of theCentral Science and Technology Commission.[20]
In May 2023, he attended the eight annual meeting of theNew Development Bank.[21] In July 2023, China and the European Union held the 4th EU-China High Level Environment and Climate Dialogue. The European delegation to China was led byFrans Timmermans, while China was represented by Ding. Both sides declared they will continue to cooperate in combatingclimate change,biodiversity loss andpollution. Both sides agreed to ensure the success ofCOP28, implement theKunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, advance theHigh Seas Treaty, cooperate inwater policy, and reach a global agreement onplastic pollution by 2024. Both sides also agreed to support acircular economy. In November 2023, Ding attended COP28 inDubai.[22]
In November 2024, he visitedSingapore and met with Singaporean Prime MinisterLawrence Wong, attending the 20th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation with Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong.[23] In January 2025, he attended the annualWorld Economic Forum summit, where he gave a speech saying China does not "seek trade surplus".[24] In November 2025, Ding attendedCOP30 inBelém, Brazil.[25]
In September 2023, Ding delivered a pre-recorded video message to the opening ceremony of a two-day forum on theBelt and Road Initiative inHong Kong.[26] In November 2023, Ding met about 150 youth representatives from Hong Kong andMacao for the first time in Beijing and conveyed Xi Jinping's affection for young people. He pledged to support youth development in Hong Kong with more "concrete work", including on study and job opportunities, starting up businesses and housing issues, addressing young people as the "new blood" for the nation's development.[27] In March 2024, Ding met with Hong Kong deputies at the National People's Congress, where he called for swiftly enacting theArticle 23 legislation.[28] In March 2025, Ding addressed the Hong Kong deputies at the NPC, praising Hong Kong for economic "breakthroughs" in 2024 while also calling for an emphasis on security.[29]
Ding's wife previously worked in the education sector. The couple have a son, who works in theChina Development Bank.[1]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | First-ranked Vice Premier of China 2023–present | Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Director of theOffice of the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party 2013–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Director of the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party 2017–2023 | Succeeded by |
Li Qiang Cabinet I (2023–2028) | ||
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