Cao Zhi
--NPC Vice-Chairman

Following is a biographical sketch of Cao Zhi, who was just elected Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC).

Cao, male, of Han Nationality, born in May 1928, native of Anqiu, Shandong Province, joined Communist Party of China (CPC) in July 1947, started work in October 1946, college education.

Served as secretary of CPC District Committee, deputy head and head of Publicity Department of CPC Acheng County Committee of Songjiang Province, division chief at Heilongjiang Provincial Publicity Department, 1949-60; deputy director of General Office of

CPC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee, 1960-66.

Served as a leading official of State Planning Commission,1977-78; director of Research Office of Organization Department of CPC Central Committee, 1978-83; deputy head of Organization Department of CPC Central Committee, 1983-87; deputy director of Research Office of Secretariat of CPC Central Committee, 1987-88, executive deputy secretary-general of NPC Standing Committee 1988-93, and secretary general of the NPC Standing Committee since 1993.

He was also member of Seventh NPC Standing Committee and secretary-general of Eighth NPC Standing Committee.