Wang Zhaoguo

Wang Zhaoguo (; born 14 July 1941) is a Chinese retired politician who came to prominence during the era of Deng Xiaoping.

An automobile factory technician by trade, Wang had a long and varied political career, known for having acquired a ministerial-level position at the age of 41. Before entering the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party in 2002, he successively served as the first secretary of the Communist Youth League of China, the director of the Party General Office, a secretary of the Central Secretariat, the governor of Fujian, the head of the United Front Work Department and vice chairman of the CPPCC.

Initially speculated to be a political star and once regarded as the successor of the office of Party General Secretary, Wang's career leveled out after he entered the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party in 2002. In his later years, he served as the head of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and as a vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. He retired in 2013.

Early life Wang Zhaoguo was born in Fengrun County, Hebei on 14 July 1941 to a poor family. He went to school later than his peers due to his family situation. He joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1965. He graduated from Harbin Institute of Technology in 1966, specializing in mechanical engineering. Between 1966 and 1968, at the height of the Cultural Revolution, Wang awaited assignment. Between 1968 and 1971, he worked as a technician at the First Automobile Works in Changchun. He then began working as the Communist Youth League leader at a factory owned by the Second Automobile Works (the predecessor to Dongfeng Motor).

Rise to power By 1979, the 38-year-old Wang had become the party chief of the Second Automobile Works. After the Cultural Revolution, Deng Xiaoping and a new group leaders introduced wide-ranging reforms. Deng was said to have been briefed on Wang's outstanding performance and sought to promote Wang. Wang entered the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party at a mere 41 years of age, and was selected to become the First Secretary of the Communist Youth League from 1982 to 1984. At this point, Hu Jintao was working as Wang's first deputy.

Wang had advocated for policies favouring the party "clean up its own act" and "self-discipline" as part of wider political reform programs spearheaded by Hu, and said that these changes must begin with the party's upper echelons. This move was met with resistance from party elders, who saw themselves as being unfairly targeted and politically vulnerable; Wang was subsequently removed as General Office chief. Wang was succeeded by Wen Jiabao, the deputy chief of the General Office at the time. The move was speculated to be suggested by respected party elder Chen Yun and approved by Deng Xiaoping. He was a member of the 16th and 17th Politburos of the Chinese Communist Party. In addition, he also served as the Chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions between December 2002 and February 2013.

Wang was a member of the 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th Central Committees of the Chinese Communist Party, known for serving under four party general secretaries - Hu Yaobang, Zhao Ziyang, Jiang Zemin, and Hu Jintao. Wang retired from Politburo after the 18th Party Congress in November 2012, an event which saw Xi Jinping became General Secretary, and Wang officially retired from politics in March 2013 after he stepped down as vice chairperson of the NPC Standing Committee.

Wang made several public appearances after he retired. He visited his former employer Dongfeng Motors from May 17 to 18, 2013. He appeared with his wife on April 22, 2014, at the Zhou Enlai memorial house in Huai'an, Jiangsu. Wang also sent a commemorative floral basket along with Hu Jintao to mark the 25th anniversary of the death of Hu Yaobang in April 2014.