Li Qiang

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Lore & Background

Li Qiang was born in Rui'an, Zhejiang, in July 1959. He joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1983 and began his career in the Communist Youth League. He held various provincial roles, including party secretary of Wenzhou and governor of Zhejiang, before serving as party secretary of Jiangsu and then Shanghai. In Shanghai, he pursued pro-business policies and handled the COVID-19 pandemic response. He was promoted to the Politburo Standing Committee in 2022 and became premier in 2023, succeeding Li Keqiang. Li's close relationship with Xi Jinping began in the mid-2000s when both held party positions in Zhejiang. Li helped draft Xi's Double Eight Strategy and is considered part of the New Zhijiang Army. He has voiced support for economic reforms and is seen as pro-business, having implemented policies like the Shanghai STAR Market and attracting foreign investment, including Tesla's gigafactory.

Reader's Guide

Li Qiang's significance lies in his rapid rise through China's political hierarchy, culminating in his role as premier, the second-highest position in the CCP. His tenure is marked by a pro-business orientation, including support for private enterprise in Wenzhou, the creation of 'characteristic towns' in Zhejiang, and pro-business policies in Shanghai such as the STAR Market and Tesla's gigafactory. He is a key ally of Xi Jinping, part of the New Zhijiang Army, and has overseen a strengthening of the premier's position. His handling of the COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai drew criticism, but he remains a central figure in China's economic management. His legacy is tied to his close association with Xi and his efforts to balance economic reform with party control.

Did You Know?

• Li Qiang was the youngest party secretary of Wenzhou in history at age 43.
• He helped draft Xi Jinping's Double Eight Strategy for Zhejiang.
• Li proposed creating an 'independent think-tank like the RAND Corporation' to evaluate government performance.
• He oversaw the opening of the Shanghai Stock Exchange STAR Market and Tesla's gigafactory in Shanghai.
• Li is one of the few top leaders who reportedly wanted China to introduce Western mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.