Haj Iliyas Shen Xiaxi, male, Hui nationality, is a native of Shanghai. His ancestral home is in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. He was born in 1921.
Haj has spent the majority of his career promoting Muslim activities within the country. He has served in leadership positions with the China Islamic Association and was president of the China Institute of Islamic Theology. Before these responsibilities, Haj was vice-president of the Gansu Provincial Islamic Association.
Haj‘s positions also have an international perspective. He was vice-president of the China People‘s Association for Peace and Disarmament. He has served as the vice-president of the China-Africa Friendship Association.
Along with these activities, Haj also has experience with the judiciary and in provincial government. He was a magistrate in Qingshui County and later was deputy director the Gansu Provincial Planning Committee and the Gansu Provincial Geology Bureau.