China Vitae : Biography of Cao Gangchuan

Compiled from the following sources:

Special biographic research
Wen Wei Publishing Company, Ltd. 2002-2006

Who's Who, Current Chinese Leaders
Wen Wei Publishing Company, Ltd. 2003-2005

Zhongguo Gongchandang Lijie Zhongyang Weiyuan Dacidian, 1921-2003
Beijing: Zhonggong dangshi chubanshe 2004

Revision History:

Biography Revised: 3/18/2008
Career Data Updated: 3/18/2008

Cao Gangchuan 曹刚川

Former Minister of National Defense

Born: 1935

Birthplace: Henan Province, Wugang

Biography

Cao Gangchuan, male, Han nationality, is a native of Wugang, Henan Province. He was born in 1935, joined the PLA in 1954, and joined the CPC in 1956. He holds the military rank of general.

Cao spent the early part of his career in the Military Affairs Department of the PLA. In 1996 he became minister of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense. In the late 1990's he held Party and senior management positions in the PLA's General Armament Department.

Cao Gangchuan was a member of the 16th CPC Central Committee. He served as State Councilor of the State Council and Minister of the Ministry of National Defense from 2003-2008.

Career Data

2003—2008	Minister, Ministry of National Defense
2003—2008	State Councilor, State Council
2002—2007	Member, 16th CPC, Central Committee, Politburo
2002—2007	Vice-Chairman, 16th CPC, Central Committee, Central Military Commission
2002—2007	Member, 16th CPC, Central Committee
1998—	Director, PLA, General Armaments Department
1998—2002	Member, 15th CPC, Central Committee, Central Military Commission
1998—	Secretary, PLA, General Armaments Department CPC, Party Committee
1998—	General, PLA
1997—2002	Member, 15th CPC, Central Committee
1996—1998	Minister, State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND)
1993—1998	Lieutenant General, PLA
1992—1996	Deputy Chief, PLA, Headquarters of the General Staff
1990—1992	Director, Central Military Commission of the PRC, Office of Military Trade
1989—1990	Director, PLA, Headquarters of the General Staff, Military Affairs Department
1988—1993	Major General, PLA
1982—1989	Deputy Director, PLA, Headquarters of the General Staff, Military Equipment Department
1975—1982	Deputy Director, PLA, Headquarters of the General Staff, Military Equipment Department, General Planning Division
1975—1982	Staff Officer, PLA, Headquarters of the General Staff, Military Equipment Department, General Planning Division
1969—1975	Assistant, PLA, General Logistics Department, Military Equipment Department, Munitions Division
1963—1969	Assistant, PLA, General Logistics Department, Ordinance Department, Ammunition Division
1957—1963	Student, (Military Engineering School, Artillery Corps of the Soviet Union)
1956—1956	Teacher, No. 1 Ordnance Technical School
1956	Joined, CPC
1956—1957	Student, PLA Dalian Russian-Language School Liaoning Province, Dalian City
1954—1956	Student, No. 1 Ordnance Technical School
1954—1956	Student, No. 3 Artillery Ordnance Technical School Jiangsu Province, Nanjing City
1954	Joined, PLA

Recent Travel & Appearances

31 Mar 10	APPEARANCE	Hu Jintao bid farewell to former commander of the Air Force of the PLA Zhang Tingfa.
11 Feb 10	APPEARANCE	Hu Jintao and other senior Party and government officials visited a number of former leaders and extended their best wishes to them, ahead of the Lunar New Year.
20 Oct 09	APPEARANCE	Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin consoled a relative of Lu Zhengcao, the last one of New China's first 57 generals, during Lu's funeral service.
01 Oct 09	APPEARANCE	Hu Jintao addressed the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
30 Sep 09	APPEARANCE	Wen Jiabao and top leaders attended a grand reception to mark the founding anniversary of the People's Republic.
28 Sep 09	APPEARANCE	Hu Jintao and other top leaders watched a large-scale musical epic.
19 Sep 09	APPEARANCE	Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin visited an exhibition showcasing the achievements New China has made in the past six decades.
10 Aug 09	APPEARANCE	Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin attended the cremation ceremony of Zhuo Lin, widow of China's late leader Deng Xiaoping.
16 Jan 09	APPEARANCE	Xi Jinping met with retired cadres during a Spring Festival reception held for old comrades.
13 Jan 09	APPEARANCE	Hu Jintao attended an art performance to entertain military veterans and ex-officers.

The most recent (of 266) travel & appearance entries are listed here.