Ding Xuexiang was born in Nantong, Jiangsu province, on 13 September 1962. He graduated from the Northeast Heavy Machinery Institute in Qinghuangdao, later renamed Yanshan University, in 1982 with a degree in engineering. Ding Xuexiang got his first job at the Shanghai Research Institute of Materials (SRIM) from 1982 to 1999, and joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1984.[2] Ding Xuexiang received a master's degree in public administration from Fudan University's School of Management in 1993.[3] At the Shanghai Research Institute of Materials, Ding advanced rapidly through various research, administrative, and party positions.
Political career
Ding's rise to the Politburo was achieved primarily by climbing the ranks of the party.[3] Ding moved into politics after obtaining his first cadre position, as the deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Science & Technology Commission, in 1999.[4] Throughout his tenure at the SRIM, he attained leadership roles in propaganda, organization, general office, politics, and legal affairs, gaining valuable experience in all said fields. He moved up the ranks of the party apparatus in Shanghai, finishing off his time in the city as Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee in 2013.[5] He would first be elected to the Central Committee as an alternate member at the 18th Party Congress in 2012.
Following the first plenary session of the 20th CCP Central Committee in October 2022, Ding was elevated to the CCP Politburo Standing Committee, the top decision-making body in China.[8] 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".[9]
^张, 丽青 (2022) [2022-10-23]. "中共二十届中央领导机构成员简历" [Biographical notes of the members of the 20th Central Governing Body of the Communist Party of China]. www.moj.gov.cn (in Chinese). 中华人民共和国司法部. Retrieved 2024-06-08 – via 新华网.