Zhang Dinghua, male, Han nationality, is a native of Shaanxian County, Henan Province. He was born in 1933 and graduated from the Foreign Languages Faculty of Northwest University in 1952. He joined the CPC in 1956.
After graduating from university, Zhang began his career with the Qinghai Oil Prospecting Bureau . There he worked in the expert works office, the oil-extracting brigade, and the geological section – all in leadership positions. In 1964, Zhang became the deputy head of the Shengli Oilfield Prospecting Newspaper. He later directed the CPC committee‘s political department at the Shengli Oilfield Command Headquarters, a job he held from 1970 to 1979.
Following four years with the Dagang Oilfield Command Headquarters, Zhang shifted to assume CPC positions. He worked in various CPC committees, culminating in his deputy secretary job with the CPC Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Committee from 1988 to 1991.
Zhang has also served as vice-president and the first secretary of the secretariat of the 11th and 12th executive committees of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions. In 1997, he attended the Hong Kong handover ceremony as a member of the Chinese government delegation.
In 1998, he was appointed the vice-chairman of the 9th NPC Committee for Internal and Judicial Affairs.