Meng Xuenong

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Meng Xuenong (孟学农)

Born August 8, 1949
Penglai, Shandong
Residence Taiyuan
Nationality Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China
Education Beijing Normal University
Occupation Cadre
Employers Shanxi Provincial People's Government
Title Vice-Governor and Acting Governor
Term Anticipated 2007-12
Predecessor Yu Youjun (于幼军)
Political party Communist Party of China
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Meng Xuenong (simplified Chinese: 孟学农; traditional Chinese: 孟學農; pinyin: Mèng Xuénóng; born August 8, 1949) is the current vice-governor and acting governor of Shanxi province in mainland China. A native of Penglai county, Shandong, Meng had previous provincial-level leadership experience as Mayor of Beijing, until he was dramatically sacked for his failure to control and conceal the SARS epidemic. He is also a member of the 16th CPC Central Committee and a deputy in the 2003-08 National People's Congress.[1]

Contents

[edit] Career

Meng studied engineering[2] at Beijing Normal University (1969-72) during the later stages of the Cultural Revolution before being assigned to Beijing's No.2 Motor Vehicle Plant.[3] He joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in July 1972,[1] rising through the ranks of the Beijing municipal Communist Youth League (CYL) and the car industry. In 1986 he was transferred to senior posts in the hospitality industry, briefly serving as General Manager of the Beijing Hotel group. He then spent four years (1991-1995) at the University of Science and Technology of China, alongside Qiang Wei (强卫), who has been a consistent colleague.[3] After graduating with an MBA,[4] he became a vice-mayor of Beijing in 1993.[1]

In January 2003 he was appointed deputy Party chief of the CPC Beijing Committee and Mayor of Beijing Municipality.[1] The SARS crisis hit Beijing sometime in March, and Meng is said to have moved patients between hospitals in a botched cover-up that worsened the outbreak.[5] The Politburo Standing Committee decided to remove him from his posts on 16 April as part of a double sacking with health minister Zhang Yongkang. The pair were held responsible both for the public health failure and the damage to trust in the Party. The sacking was described by one journalist as "the biggest political earthquake since the time of Tiananmen in 1989."[6][7] The harsh treatment was privately questioned by other cadres in Beijing, but they were assured that Meng's co-operative attitude would be rewarded.[8] Five months later, he was quietly created deputy director of the South-North Water Transfer Project, reporting to the State Council.[1]

Meng was appointed Vice Secretary of the CPC Shanxi Committee on 30 August 2007 as part of a wider Party reshuffle, and then elected Vice Governor and acting Governor by the Shanxi Provincial People's Congress on 3 September.[1] He is expected to become full Governor in due course,[9] possibly after the 17th Party Congress.

[edit] Faction and policies

Meng is a member of the tuanpai faction of former Communist Youth League officials and has close personal ties to President Hu Jintao.[10] As he stated himself, "My career in the CCYL [sic] provided a foundation for my political career later on."[11] At a news conference in January 2003, he portrayed himself as an old friend of Hu, stating "Cadre Jintao was a major leader in the Communist Youth League 20 years ago and some of us worked under his leadership... What I remember most deeply are his fairness, personal integrity and selflessness. Those qualities make up his unique charisma."[12] However, this has been subsequently disputed.[13] Hu allegedly fired his protège in order to remove Zhang, linked to rival Jiang Zemin.[14] Some reports claimed the mayor was "sacrificed" to protect Liu Qi.[7] It has even been claimed that Meng is closer to Liu (and thus Jiang) than Hu.[13] However, most commentators saw Meng's return to power as a sign of the tuanpai faction's dominance.[9][14]

The People's Daily has portrayed Meng as reformist. He claims his CYL experience helps him stay in touch with young people and remain open-minded. He used to live in Beijing's Siheyuan (traditional working-class housing), and (as of 2003) kept in touch with his former neighbours, claiming a special understanding of the people.[15] On his election in Taiyuan, he told delegates, "I will do my utmost best to get familiar with Shanxi and become like a native... [the governorship is] a great honour, but also comes with great responsibility." [16]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Meng Xuenong appointed acting governor of north China's Shanxi Province. Xinhua (2007). Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
  2. ^ "Business Briefs" (2003-01-20). South China Morning Post. 
  3. ^ a b Meng Xuenong. China Vitae. Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
  4. ^ Local Leadership. 2003. Xinhua. Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
  5. ^ (SCMP editorial) (2003-05-19). "For a cleaner Beijing, sort out the city's bureaucratic mess". South China Morning Post. 
  6. ^ Francesco Sisci (2003). China's bureaucracy: A virus's best friend. Asia Times Online. Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
  7. ^ a b John Pomfret (2003-04-21). "SARS Coverup Spurs A Shake-Up in Beijing". Washington Post: A01. 
  8. ^ Xu Yufang (2003). China's atypical politics. Asia Times Online. Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
  9. ^ a b Cary Huang (2007-09-01). "Hu protege resurrected ahead of congress". South China Morning Post. 
  10. ^ Nailene Chou (2003-10-02). "Rapid return to the top for sacked Beijing mayor". South China Morning Post. 
  11. ^ Bo, Zhiyue (2007). China's Elite Politics: Political Transition and Power Balancing. World Scientific, 183. ISBN 9812700412. 
  12. ^ Oliver August (2003-01-21). "New Chinese leader consolidates his hold". The Times. 
  13. ^ a b Wang Zhengxu (2003-12). "Hu Jintao's Power Consolidation:". Issues & Studies 42 (4): 97–136.  See page 110, especially n.27.
  14. ^ a b Wu Zhong (2003). Balancing act at the party congress. Asia Times Online. Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
  15. ^ Xinhua (2003). Beijing's New Mayor a Man of the People. People's Daily. Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
  16. ^ Chow Chung-yan (2007-09-05). "Official sacked over Sars fiasco vows to do better in Shanxi". South China Morning Post.  It is highly unlikely the final phrase is a pop culture reference.

[edit] External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Liu Qi		 Mayor of Beijing
2003		 Succeeded by
Wang Qishan
Preceded by
Yu Youjun		 Governor of Shanxi
2007-		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Languages