Yu Zhengsheng

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 (1945-04-05) (age 73)
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

Yu Zhengsheng (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.

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.[1] In five urban districts of Shanghai, the population of those with outside hukou exceeded that of long-term Shanghai residents.[2] In addition, the major fire of November 15, 2010 of a 28-storey high-rise apartment also led to some residents citing mismanagement on the part of Yu.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5] He is known to speak without relying on script, and is often called "Lao Yu" by people familiar with him.[6]

Brother's defection

Yu's brother, Yu Qiangsheng, defected to the United States in 1985.[5] 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.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "上海是全国的上海" (in Chinese). 人民网. 2009-08-02. Retrieved 2017-10-31.
  2. ↑ "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. 2012-12-11. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  3. ↑ "10万人火灾现场悼亡灵问责直指俞正声" (in Chinese). 热点新闻网. 2010-11-22. Archived from the original on 2010-11-23. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  4. ↑ "「最后一刻 俞正声顶替李源潮」". 23 November 2012.
  5. 1 2 Lim, Benjamin (19 June 2007). "China princeling emerges from defection scandal". Reuters. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  6. ↑ "俞正声人物特写：每天都会上网看新闻". 24 December 2012.
  7. ↑ Sheridan, Michael (4 June 2012). "Beijing elite shaken by CIA spy scandal". The Times.
Political offices
Preceded by
Jia Qinglin		 Chairman of the National Committee of the
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
2013–2018		 Succeeded by
Wang Yang
Government offices
Preceded by
Hou Jie		 Minister of Construction
1998–2001		 Succeeded by
Wang Guangtao
Party political offices
Preceded by
Jiang Zhuping		 Communist Party Secretary of Hubei
2001–2007		 Succeeded by
Luo Qingquan
Preceded by
Xi Jinping		 Communist Party Secretary of Shanghai
2007–2012		 Succeeded by
Han Zheng
Order of precedence
Preceded by
Zhang Dejiang		 4th Rank of the Communist Party of China
18th Politburo Standing Committee		 Succeeded by
Liu Yunshan
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