Yu Zhengsheng

Yu Zhengsheng (/juː dʒʌŋˈʃʌŋ/;[1] Chinese: 俞正声; born 5 April 1945) is a retired Chinese politician. Between 2013 and 2018, he served as the Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a largely ceremonial political advisory body. Between 2012 and 2017, Yu was a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, China's de facto highest ruling body.

Yu Zhengsheng
俞正声
Yu Zhengsheng in 2017
8th Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
In office 11 March 2013 – 14 March 2018
Deputy	Du Qinglin and 22 other ones
Preceded by	Jia Qinglin
Succeeded by	Wang Yang
Communist Party Secretary of Shanghai
In office 27 October 2007 – 20 November 2012
Mayor	Han Zheng
Preceded by	Xi Jinping
Succeeded by	Han Zheng
Communist Party Secretary of Hubei
In office 7 December 2001 – 27 October 2007
Governor	Zhang Guoguang Luo Qingquan
Preceded by	Jiang Zhuping
Succeeded by	Luo Qingquan
Minister for Construction
In office 18 March 1998 – 29 December 2001
Premier	Zhu Rongji
Preceded by	Hou Jie
Succeeded by	Wang Guangtao
Personal details
Born	5 April 1945 (age 75) Yan'an, Shaanxi
Political party	Communist Party of China
Spouse(s)	Zhang Zhikai
Children	1
Parents	Huang Jing Fan Jin
Relatives	Yu Qiangsheng (brother)
Alma mater	Harbin Military Engineering Institute

Yu Zhengsheng
Simplified Chinese	俞正声
Traditional Chinese	俞正聲
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Yú Zhèngshēng

Prior to coming to prominence nationally, Yu served as the Communist Party Secretary of Hubei, and Party Secretary of Shanghai, one of China's most important regional offices. Yu became a member of the Politburo in November 2002.

Career

Yu Zhengsheng was born in the communist revolutionary heartland of Yan'an in 1945, the son of Yu Qiwei (better known as Huang Jing), a Communist revolutionary, and Fan Jin, a frontline journalist. Yu's family was originally from Shaoxing, Zhejiang province. He graduated from Harbin Military Academy of Engineering specializing in the design of automated missiles. In December 1968 he was sent to work in Zhangjiakou, Hebei. Until the mid-1980s his career concentration was in electronic engineering. In 1984, he was asked by Deng Xiaoping's son Deng Pufang to take on a leading role in the Fund for Disabled Persons.

In 1985, Yu was sent to Shandong to become Deputy Party Secretary of Yantai in Shandong province. In 1987 he was named mayor of Yantai at age 42. In 1992, he was named party chief of Qingdao and a member of the Shandong provincial Party Standing Committee; he was known to have released his salary income, housing situation, and gifts he received on television.

He failed to secure election to the Central Committee in 1992, subsequently being sent to become Party chief in Qingdao. Qingdao was approved as a sub-provincial city in 1997. Yu served as Deputy Minister of Construction when he was recalled back to Beijing in 1997, and a year later promoted to the Minister position. He remained in that position in Zhu Rongji's cabinet from 1998 to 2001. He became a member of the powerful Politburo of the Communist Party of China in November 2002, while serving as the party chief of Hubei. Yu was the only Hubei party chief since economic reforms began to hold a seat on the Politburo.

Shanghai

Following the 17th Party Congress, Yu became the party chief in Shanghai, replacing Xi Jinping. During his term as party chief, Shanghai experienced below-normal economic growth and a drastic increase in real estate prices; a large influx of migrants from outside the city migrated in search of work, creating tension with locals.[2] In five urban districts of Shanghai, the population of those with outside hukou exceeded that of long-term Shanghai residents.[3] In addition, the major fire of 15 November 2010 of a 28-storey high-rise apartment also led to some residents citing mismanagement on the part of Yu.[4]

Standing Committee

Prior to the 18th Party Congress, Yu was seen as a leading candidate for the Politburo Standing Committee. It was customary for Shanghai party chiefs to enter the Standing Committee after the end of their terms since Jiang Zemin ascended to the Standing Committee in 1989 (the only exception was Chen Liangyu, who was ousted on corruption charges). It was said that Yu edged out Li Yuanchao for membership on the leadership council at the eleventh hour due to internal voting and consultations. Yu ranked fourth on the Standing Committee, taking on the portfolio of managing Xinjiang and Tibet affairs in addition to becoming the Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a largely ceremonial political advisory body.[5]

Personal life

Yu is married to Zhang Zhikai (Chinese: 张志凯; pinyin: Zhāng Zhìkǎi), the daughter of Zhang Zhenhuan. They have a son. Yu was said to be friends with former leader Deng Xiaoping and his family, including Deng Xiaoping's son Deng Pufang. After the senior Deng left politics, Yu was said to have served as his family's proxy within the Chinese government.[6] He is known to speak without relying on script, and is often called "Lao Yu" by people familiar with him.[7]

Brother's defection

Yu's brother, Yu Qiangsheng, defected to the United States in 1985.[6] After defecting, Qiangsheng informed the U.S. government that Larry Wu-Tai Chin, a retired CIA analyst, was actually a spy for the Chinese government. According to rumors reported by The Times of London, Yu Qiangsheng was assassinated by Chinese secret agents in Latin America after his defection and placement in witness protection.[8]

References

1. "How to Say: Chinese leaders' names". Magazine Monitor. BBC. 15 November 2012. Archived from the original on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
2. "Archived copy" 上海是全国的上海 (in Chinese). 人民网. 2 August 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
3. "Archived copy" 上海常住人口2371万 5区流动人口数超户籍人口 (in Chinese). 新民网. 11 December 2012. Archived from the original on 8 May 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. 10万人火灾现场悼亡灵问责直指俞正声 (in Chinese). 热点新闻网. 22 November 2010. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
5. "「最后一刻 俞正声顶替李源潮」". 23 November 2012. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
6. Lim, Benjamin (19 June 2007). "China princeling emerges from defection scandal". Reuters. Archived from the original on 17 November 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
7. "俞正声人物特写：每天都会上网看新闻". 24 December 2012. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
8. Sheridan, Michael (4 June 2012). "Beijing elite shaken by CIA spy scandal". The Times.

External links

• (in Chinese) Biography of Yu Zhengsheng at xinhuanet.com