Wen Jiabao also known for his strong administrative skills is the Premier of the State Council of China. After assuming office in 2003, he is the third most important leader in the hierarchy of politburo standing committee of the Communist Party of China. A key part of the fourth generation of leadership, he is quite popular with the Chinese people.
As the Premier of the state council, he serves as a member of its Leading Party Members’ Group and Secretary of the Financial Work Committee of the CPC Central Committee.
Native of Tianjin, Wen graduated from the Nankai High School. Though he joined CPC in 1965, he took initiative and got involved in full-fledged party work only in 1967.
He went on to become one of the most accomplished technocrats of the country. Having studied geomechanics, he started his career at Gansu Geology Bureau. Gradually, he rose to the position of Gansu Provincial Geological Bureau Chief. From the very beginning there was no looking back for him. From Gasnu Chief he went on to become the Minister of Natural Resources.
Wen also rose in the rank of CPC smoothly in the 1980s and 1990s. Wen’s move from Gansu to Beijing occurred when the party, under the leadership of Hu Yaobang, was conducting a talent search. He was quickly promoted to serve as the deputy in the Party’s Central Office. He remained in the post for eight-years.
He is the only member of the Standing Committee to have served under three party secretaries. He is also regarded as a great political survivor of Tinaanmen Square protests.
Wen’s reputation for meticulousness and competence led Premier Zhu Rongji to entrust him with the task of overseeing agricultural, financial and environmental policies during his regime. These sectors were considered vital as China prepared to enter the WTO.
During the transition of power to fourth generation leaders, National People’s Congress confirmed Wen Jiabao’s candidacy for Premiership with over 99% vote in his favour.
