Joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in April 1964 and began working in September 1966. Graduated from the Department of Radio and Electronics of Tsinghua University, majoring in electronic vacuum devices. With a university education. Engineer.

Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, chairman of the 11th NPC Standing Committee and secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group.

1960-1967: Student of electronic vacuum devices at the Department of Radio and Electronics, Tsinghua University

1967-1976: Worker and technician of Shanghai No. 3 Electronic Tube Factory, deputy chief and chief of its technical section

1976-1978: Deputy secretary of the Party committee, deputy director of the Revolutionary Committee, deputy factory director, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and factory director of Shanghai No. 3 Electronic Tube Factory

1978-1979: Deputy manager of Shanghai Electronic Components Company

1979-1981: Deputy manager of Shanghai Electronic Vacuum Devices Company

1981-1983: Deputy secretary of the Party committee of Shanghai Meters and Telecommunications Bureau

1983-1985: Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and concurrently secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee in charge of science and technology

1985-1991: Deputy secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee

1991-1992: Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee

1992-1994: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee

1994-1995: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee

1995-1997: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and vice premier of the State Council

1997-1998: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council

1998-1999: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, vice premier of the State Council, and secretary of the Central Large Enterprises Work Committee

1999-2002: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, vice premier of the State Council, member of its Leading Party Members' Group, and secretary of the Central Large Enterprises Work Committee

2002-2003: Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, vice premier of the State Council, member of its Leading Party Members' Group, and secretary of the Central Large Enterprises Work Committee

2003-2008: Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, chairman of the 10th NPC Standing Committee and secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group

2008-: Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, chairman of the 11th NPC Standing Committee and secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group

Alternate member of the 12th and 13th CPC Central Committees. Member of the 14th through 17th CPC Central Committees. Member of the Political Bureau of the 14th CPC Central Committee. Co-opted as member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 14th CPC Central Committee. Member of the Political Bureau of the 15th CPC Central Committee. Member of the Political Bureaus of the 16th and 17th CPC Central Committees and member of their standing committees. Chairman of the Standing Committees of the 10th and 11th National People's Congress.