Li Qiang

Li Qiang (Chinese: 李强; pinyin: Lǐ Qiáng; born July 1959) is a Chinese politician who is the premier of China and the second-ranking member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Li joined the CCP in 1983, and first worked in the Communist Youth League in Rui'an. Later serving in provincial department of civil affairs, he became the party secretary of Yongkang in 1996, the party secretary of Wenzhou in 2002, the Political Legal Affairs Secretary of Zhejiang in 2011 and later the deputy party secretary of the province. He served as the governor of Zhejiang from 2012 to 2016, later serving as the party secretary of Jiangsu from 2016 to 2017. In 2017, he was elevated to become a member of the CCP Politburo. He subsequently served as the party secretary of Shanghai from 2017 to 2022. During his tenure in Shanghai, he pursued pro-business policies and handled the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2022, he was promoted to the Politburo Standing Committee. In 2023, he became premier, succeeding Li Keqiang. During his tenure, Li oversaw a strengthening of the premier's position, and has handled the economy of China. Having served together with current CCP general secretary Xi Jinping in Zhejiang, Li is considered part of the New Zhijiang Army, the party faction of Xi Jinping, the CCP general secretary and top leader since 2012. The close relationship started in the mid-2000s when both held party positions in Zhejiang Province. Li is generally regarded by observers as pro-business and has voiced support for economic reforms.