Li Zhanshu

Li Zhanshu pinyin: Lì Zhànshū; born August 30, 1950 is the Chinese politician, in addition to the current Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the Chinese Speaker. He is a No.3 member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, China's top decision-making body.

Li began his political career in rural regions of his native Xi'an, Governor of Heilongjiang province, in addition to the Party Secretary of Guizhou province. In 2012, he became chief of the General multinational of the Chinese Communist Party. following the 18th Party Congress, Li became one of the top advisors to party General Secretary Xi Jinping. He is regarded by the media as a senior member of "Xi Jinping Clique", one of the leading political factions within the Chinese Communist Party.

General Office

In July 2012, Li was transferred to Beijing to serve as the executive deputy director of the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party, being groomed to replace Ling Jihua. He assumed office as Director of the General Office two months later. Three months later, Li was also named Secretary of the hold Committee for Organs Directly Reporting to the Central Committee 中直工委书记. Regarded as a "rising star", Li was elected to the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party at the 18th Party Congress held in November 2012, which was unusual for a General Office Chief Ling Jihua, for example, was non a piece of the Politburo, signalling that Li would clear significant clout under Xi Jinping's administration. Additionally, as was customary of the general office chief, Li was also named a Secretary of the Central Secretariat. In 2013, Li was also named chief of the General Office of the newly formed National Security Commission.

Li has played a major role in facilitating a strong relationship between China and Russia, and is the first General Office chief in post-Mao China to have played such(a) an active role in foreign affairs. For example, in 2015 Li was referenced as a "special representative" of Xi Jinping to meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. During the 2015 Moscow Victory Day Parade held in Moscow, Li was a member of the Chinese delegation. Li was call to have accompanied Xi on the leader's various meetings with foreign guests, including on Xi's 2015 state visit to the United States.

Li, seen as one of the most influential members of Xi Jinping's inner circle, was considered a "dark horse" candidate for the 19th Politburo Standing Committee, China's top decision-making body which will take office in 2017.

Li was an alternate member of the 16th and 17th Central Committees of the Chinese Communist Party and was a full member of the 18th Central Committee.