Wang Gang

Vice-Chairman, National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)

Date of Birth: October 1942
Place of Birth: Fuyu County, Jilin Province

A pillar of China's diplomacy is the cultivation of links between the Chinese Communist Party and the ruling parties of its allies. The strategy has become more nuanced, as seen during Wang Gang's 28 May-8 June trip to Africa. In Zimbabwe, Wang toasted CCP-Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front ties but made time for a quiet visit to opposition leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. In Kenya, the joys of power sharing were honoured as Wang pledged cooperation with the Party of National Unity, Orange Democratic Movement and ODM-Kenya. However, a few days later in Egypt, the opposition did not merit even a nod.

Wang rose to the central leadership as a savvy administrator. Born in 1942 in Jilin Province, he graduated in philosophy from Jilin University in 1967. He found work in the Ministry of Construction's publicity section and joined the CCP in 1971. After five years as Secretary in the Xinjiang CCP's Committee General Office (1977-81), he became Secretary of the Taiwan Affairs Office (1981-1985). He then joined the General Office, initially dealing with archives and communications.

Wang is a once-influential figure whose star is on the wane as he nears retirement. His zenith was under General Secretary Jiang Zemin (1993-2003). Jiang made him the head of the General Office in 1999, thereby giving himself a means to manage the various factions in the Central Committee.

When Hu Jintao succeeded Jiang as President, analysts expected him to find a replacement for Wang. Yet Wang saw which way the wind was blowing and served Hu as loyally as he had Jiang. Wang remained at the General Office until 2007 when he was made a full member of the Politburo and Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC.