Shi Taifeng

Shi Taifeng (Chinese: 石泰峰; pinyin: Shí Taìfēng; born September 1956) is a Chinese politician serving since 2015 as the Governor of Jiangsu province. Originally from Shanxi province, Shi spent part of his career at the Central Party School. He has also served as the Communist Party Secretary of Suzhou, and the Deputy Party Secretary of Jiangsu province.

Biography

Shi Taifeng was born in Yushe County, Shanxi, in 1956. During the Cultural Revolution he was a sent-down youth in his home county, performing manual labour. He then studied machinery at a local college before entering the work force as a factory worker. Following the resumption of the National College Entrance Exams, Shi was admitted to Peking University and obtained a master's degree in law. He was classmates with Li Keqiang, who later became Premier. After graduation, he served as a political instructor at the Central Party School.^[1]

He worked as the deputy party chief of Jin County, Hebei, before joining the research office of the Central Party School, then heading the Organization Department of the school. He spent about a year studying abroad at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. In July 2001, Shi was named vice president of the school.^[2]

In 2008, Shi became a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, a member of the Law Committee of the NPC. In September 2010 he joined the provincial Party Standing Committee and became head of the Organization Department of the Jiangsu party organization. He subsequently was elevated to deputy party chief of Jiangsu province. In June 2014 he began serving concurrently as the party chief of Suzhou, an important city on the Yangtze River Delta and an area of high concentration for manufacturing and foreign investment. During this time it was said that Shi honed his credentials as 'first-in-charge' of a major city, in preparation for his taking higher office.^[3] In December 2015, after a series of consultative meetings, Shi Taifeng was elevated to acting Governor of Jiangsu province, replacing Li Xueyong, who retired due to age. He was duly confirmed as governor by a full session of the provincial People's Congress on January 28, 2016.^[1]

Shi is an alternate member of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.^[4]

References