Who's Who in China's Leadership

			Yang Zhengwu

Yang Zhengwu, of the Tujia ethnic group, was born in January 1941. A native of Longshan County, Hunan Province, with a junior college education background, Yang began his career in September 1960 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in July 1969.

He was appointed secretary of the CPC Xiangxi Tujia-Miao Autonomous Prefectural Committee in May 1983, and standing committee member of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee in June 1985 while continuing to serve as secretary of the CPC Xiangxi Tujia-Miao Prefectural Committee.

He assumed office of deputy secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee in March 1990, and worked as deputy secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, acting governor and governor of Hunan Province from January 1995 to August 1998.

Since September 1998 Yang has acted as secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, and has concurrently held the post of chairman of the Standing Committee of the Hunan Provincial People's Congress since February 1999.

Yang was alternate member of the 12th CPC Central Committee and member of the 12th, 13th and 14th CPC Central Committee, and is member of the 15th CPC Central Committee.