Zhang Weiqing, male, Han nationality, was born in 1944 in Lintong, Shaanxi Province. He studied philosophy at Beijing University and graduated in 1967. He joined the CPC in 1972. He spent the next 20 years in Shanxi Province, rising steadily in the Party and governmental structures. He was head of the propaganda department of the CPC provincial committee from 1985 to 1993, and he served as vice-governor from 1983 to 1994.
Zhang served as vice-minister of the State Family Planning Commission from 1994 to 1998, and he was appointed minister-in-charge in 1998. He is a member of the 16th CPC Central Committee.