China Vitae

Biography Highlight

Gu Xiulian, female, Han nationality, is a native of Nantong, Jiangsu Province. She was born in 1936.

In the mid-1960s, Gu was assigned to work in the Ministry of Textile Industry because of her experiences with grassroots units. In 1973, at the age of 36, she was elevated to the position of vice-minister of the State Planning Commission. The year before, she was appointed the vice-minister of the State Family Planning Commission.

In 1982, Gu became the secretary of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee. The following year, she was elected the governor of Jiangsu Province. In assuming the governorship, Gu became the first female provincial governor. Four years later, she was re-elected governor of the province. Her growing status led her to become a member of the CPC Central Committee at the Party's 13th National Congress.

Gu Xiulian was a member of the All-China Women's Federation since the late 1990s. She was appointed president in 2003, and she served as vice-chairman of the 10th NPC standing committee in that same year.

Recent Career Data

2003—	Vice-Chairman, 10th Standing Committee of the NPC
2003—2008	President, All-China Women's Federation
1999—????	Vice-President, China Women's Development Fund
1998—2003	Vice-President, All-China Women's Federation
1998—2003	Deputy, 9th NPC
1997—2002	Member, 15th CPC, Central Committee
1992—1997	Member, 14th CPC, Central Committee
1989—1998	Secretary, Ministry of Chemical Industry CPC, Leading Party Group
1989—1998	Minister, Ministry of Chemical Industry
1987—1992	Member, 13th CPC, Central Committee

Recent Travel & Appearances

02/11/08	Gu Xiulian and Mayor of London Ken Livingstone visited the photography exhibition Women in China as a part of the China-UK Women's Cultural Festival.
10/10/07	Gu Xiulian met with Svetlana Orlova, vice chairwoman of the Russian Federation Council.
07/03/07	Gu Xiulian met with Svetlana Orlova, vice-chairwoman of the Federation Council of Russia.
08/18/06	Gu Xiulian met with Ingrida Udre, chairwoman of the Parliament of Latvia.
05/17/06	Gu Xiulian met with Prince Michael of Kent of the United Kingdom.