Ni Zhifu

Ni Zhifu (; May 1933 – 24 April 2013) was a Chinese engineer, inventor, and high-ranking politician. When he worked as a technician in the 1950s, he invented the "Ni Zhifu drill" which earned him a patent and the honour of "model worker". During the Cultural Revolution, he was elevated to leadership positions in the municipal government of Beijing and became an alternate member of the Politburo. He was not close to the Gang of Four, and for that reason his career continued to rise when the Gang fell at the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1976. He became a full member of the Politburo, and served as Chinese Communist Party Deputy Committee Secretary of Shanghai municipality, Chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, Party Chief of Tianjin municipality, and Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress.

Early life and invention Ni Zhifu was born in Shanghai in May 1933, and became an apprentice at Shanghai Detai Factory in 1950. In June 1953 he was transferred to the state-owned 618 Factory (also known as Yongding Machinery Plant) in Beijing to work as a fitter. While at the factory he invented the "Ni Zhifu drill", which greatly enhanced the performance and life of drills, and for which he was later granted a patent. He joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1958 and was named a national "model worker" in 1959. He was promoted to deputy chief engineer of the 618 Factory in 1965, and later chief engineer.

Cultural Revolution Ni was a major beneficiary of the Cultural Revolution, but unlike many supporters of the Gang of Four, he owed his rise to prominence to his contribution to production. He also served as a party secretary and a deputy director of the Revolutionary Committee of Beijing from 1973 to 1976. From 1988 to 1998 he served as a Vice Chairperson of the National People's Congress. In 1999 he became President of the Chinese Inventors' Association, which he had cofounded in 1985. He was elected to the CCP Central Committee for seven consecutive terms, from the 9th CC in 1969 until the end of the 15th CC in 2002.

On 24 April 2013, Ni died in Beijing of an illness. He was 79.