Rising rookies
Wang Gang, 64, former director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee. A graduate from the Philosophy Department of Jilin University, Wang has abundant experience of government work at both central and grassroots levels.
Wang Qishan, Beijing Mayor. He stood out with a substantial credential on economy. The 58-year-old, a certified senior economist, is a part-time professor with the Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management. He once headed the China Construction Bank, the former economic restructuring office of the State Council and acted as Party chief of Hainan Province.
Liu Yandong, 61, the only woman in the Political Bureau, is deputy chairwoman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a doctorate in political science.
Li Yuanchao, 56, a doctor of law, was recognized for narrowing the urban-rural gap during his tenure as Party secretary of Nanjing city and Jiangsu Province. He once served as deputy minister of culture and vice-director of the Information Office of the State Council.
Wang Yang, 52, a master of management science, is Party secretary of Chongqing Municipality and has gone all out to tackle the thorny task of resettling millions of people in the Three Gorges area for the world's largest hydropower project.
Zhang Gaoli, 60, an economics major in college, once served as Party secretary in Shenzhen, China's pioneer of economic reform. He was moved from Shandong Province to Tianjin this year to steer the coastal municipality through an ambitious financial reform in the city's Binhai New Area.
Xu Caihou, 64, vice-chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, graduated in electronic engineering from the Harbin Institute of Military Engineering.
Commerce Minister Bo Xilai, 57, graduated from Peking University and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. His political star rose when he was mayor of Dalian in Liaoning Province. He also served as the province's Party chief.
Ling Jihua, 50 and Wang Huning, 51, are two new members of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee. They both hold master's degrees.
