China Vitae : Biography of Qian Qichen

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: 6/2/2003
Career Data Updated: 7/5/2007

Qian Qichen 钱其琛

Vice Premier, State Council

Born: 1928

Birthplace: Shanghai Municipality

Biography

Qian Qichen, male, Han nationality, is a native of Shanghai. He was born in 1928, joined the CPC in 1942 and studied at the Communist Youth League School of the Soviet Union.

Qian began his career as a member and secretary of various district CPC and CYLC committees in Shanghai. He studied in the Soviet Union and then served in different capacities at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow. When he returned to China in the early 1960s, he worked in the Ministry of Education. He returned to the Soviet Union in 1972 to serve as Councilor at the Chinese Embassy. He later became vice-minister and ultimately, minister, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Over the years, Qian served both officially and unofficially as a liaison between China and the Soviet Union. In 1993, he was named vice-premier of the State Council. He was reelected in 1998.

Qian was an alternate member of the 12th CPC Central Committee, member of the 12th, 13th , 14th and 15th CPC Central Committees and a member of the Politburo of the 14th and 15th CPC Central Committees.

Career Data

1999	Member, Macao SAR Preparatory Committee, Government Delegation, Macao Hand-Over Ceremony
1998—1998	Chairman, Macao SAR Preparatory Committee
1997—2002	Member, 15th CPC, Central Committee
1997—2002	Member, 15th CPC, Central Committee, Politburo
1995—????	Chairman, Hong Kong SAR Preparatory Committee
1993—	Vice-Premier, State Council
1992—1997	Member, 14th CPC, Central Committee
1992—1997	Member, 14th CPC, Central Committee, Politburo
1991—????	Member, State Council
1988—1998	Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs CPC, Party Committee
1988—1998	Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1987	(Head, Chinese Delegation, Border Negotiations with Soviet Union)
1987—1992	Member, 13th CPC, Central Committee
1982	Special Envoy, Russia, Moscow
1982—1988	Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs CPC, Party Committee
1982—1988	Vice-Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1982—1987	Alternate Member, 12th CPC, Central Committee
	Spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1977—1982	Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Information Department
	Ambassador, Chinese Embassy Guinea, Conakry
1972—1982	Councilor, Chinese Embassy Russia, Moscow
1966—1972	Worker, Cultural Revolution, May 7th Cadre School
1963—1966	Deputy Director, Ministry of Higher Education, External Relations Department
1963—????	Section Chief, Ministry of Higher Education
1955—1964	Deputy Section Chief, Chinese Embassy Russia, Moscow
1955—1963	2nd Secretary, Chinese Embassy Russia, Moscow
1954—1955	(Student, Communist Youth League School, Soviet Union)
1953	Researcher, CYLC, Central Committee, General Office
1949—????	Secretary, CYLC, Municipal-Level Shanghai Municipality
1949—????	Member, CYLC, Municipal-Level Shanghai Municipality
1942	Joined, CPC

Recent Travel & Appearances

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.
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.
16 Oct 06	APPEARANCE	Hu Jintao visited an exhibition marking the 70th anniversary of the Long March.
03 Sep 05	APPEARANCE	Hu Jintao delivered a speech at a meeting marking the 60th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-fascist War.
11 Oct 04	TRAVEL	Was in Beijing Municipality and met with the following: • Kofi Annan (Secretary-General of the United Nations) Qian Qichen met with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
26 Apr 04	TRAVEL	Travelled to Shanghai Municipality Zeng Qinghong made a speech at the opening ceremony of the 60th session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
13 Nov 03	TRAVEL	Travelled to USA, Washington D.C. and met with the following: • Dick Cheney (Vice-President of the United States) Qian Qichen met with vice president of the US, Richard Cheney.