Li Zhi (official)
Encyclopedia
Li Zhi (born November 1950) is a politician in the People's Republic of China
, most notable for his role as the Communist party chief of Ürümqi
during the city's rioting in July 2009. He originated in Lixin
, Anhui
.
in 1969, joined the Communist Party of China
in March 1971, and has a post-graduate degree. After retiring from military service, Li worked in Nilka County
in Xinjiang
as a labourer in the grains department. He then went on to serve in the Region's Light Manufacturing Bureau. He then served for about a decade in the hops
industry. In 1993, he became the General Manager and Chairman of Xinjiang Hops Holdings Ltd.
His administrative career with the Communist Party began in 2000 as the deputy party chief of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture
. He then became the party chief of the Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture
. He returned to Changji in January 2005 as the prefecture's party chief, and was elevated to the party chief of Ürümqi
in November 2006, becoming first-in-charge of Xinjiang's capital.
Li Zhi was highly visible during the July 2009 Ürümqi riots; he calmed crowds on the streets of the capital using loudspeakers. On September 5, 2009, after approval from the Xinjiang Autonomous Regional Committee of the Communist Party of China, Li was stripped of his post as party chief of Ürümqi. Some sources suggest that his removal was to calm speculation that Wang Lequan
's leadership in the region has been questioned, and that Wang remains ultimately in charge.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, most notable for his role as the Communist party chief of Ürümqi
Ürümqi
Ürümqi , formerly Tihwa , is the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, in the northwest of the country....
during the city's rioting in July 2009. He originated in Lixin
Lixin
Lixin County is a county located in Anhui province of China, under the jurisdiction of the prefecture of Bozhou. It is a county famous for its education system and beef production. An agricultural county in China, the people of Lixin have depended on farming for hundreds of years...
, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
.
Biography
According to his official biography, Li joined the People's Liberation ArmyPeople's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
in 1969, joined the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
in March 1971, and has a post-graduate degree. After retiring from military service, Li worked in Nilka County
Nilka County
The Nilka County is a county situated within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and is under the administration of the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. It contains an area of 10,121 km2. According to the 2002 census, it has a population of 150,000....
in Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
as a labourer in the grains department. He then went on to serve in the Region's Light Manufacturing Bureau. He then served for about a decade in the hops
Hops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
industry. In 1993, he became the General Manager and Chairman of Xinjiang Hops Holdings Ltd.
His administrative career with the Communist Party began in 2000 as the deputy party chief of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture
Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture
Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture ) is an autonomous prefecture of Xinjiang in the People's Republic of China. It is located in the northeastern part of Xinjiang...
. He then became the party chief of the Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture
Börtala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture
Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture , short for Bortala , is a Mongol autonomous prefecture in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. It has an area of 27,000 square kilometers. Bole is its capital...
. He returned to Changji in January 2005 as the prefecture's party chief, and was elevated to the party chief of Ürümqi
Ürümqi
Ürümqi , formerly Tihwa , is the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, in the northwest of the country....
in November 2006, becoming first-in-charge of Xinjiang's capital.
Li Zhi was highly visible during the July 2009 Ürümqi riots; he calmed crowds on the streets of the capital using loudspeakers. On September 5, 2009, after approval from the Xinjiang Autonomous Regional Committee of the Communist Party of China, Li was stripped of his post as party chief of Ürümqi. Some sources suggest that his removal was to calm speculation that Wang Lequan
Wang Lequan
Wang Lequan is a Chinese politician, currently serving as the Deputy Chair of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee of the Communist Party of China. He was a prominent regional leader in Xinjiang, China, serving as the Region's Communist Party chief between 1994 and 2010...
's leadership in the region has been questioned, and that Wang remains ultimately in charge.