Lǐ Ruìhuán (李瑞环/李瑞環,September 1934- ) was a politician active late 20th century and early 21st century in the People's Republic of China. Li was a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of 15th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China until November 2002. He served as Chairman of the 9th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) until March 2003. 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (Chinese: 中国共产党中央政治局常务委员会 pinyin: Zhōngguó GòngchÇŽndÇŽng Zhōngyāng Zhèngzhìjú Chángwù WÄ›iyuánhuì) is a committee whose membership varies between 5 and 9 and includes the top leadership of the Communist Party of China. ... The Politburo of the Communist Party of China ( Chinese: 中国共产党中央政治局 pinyin: Zhōngguó Gòngchǎndǎng Zhōngyāng Zhèngzhìjú) is a group of 19 to 25 people who oversee the Communist Party of China. ... The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (Chinese: 中国共产党中央委员会 pinyin: Zhōngguó GòngchÇŽndÇŽng Zhōngyāng WÄ›iyuánhuì) is the highest authority within the Communist Party of China between Party Congresses. ... Communist Party of China flag The Communist Party of China (Simplified Chinese: 中国共产党; Traditional Chinese: 中國共産黨; pinyin: ) is the ruling party of the Peoples Republic of China. ... 2002 (MMII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (中国人民政治协商会议 Pinyin: Zhongguo renmin zhengzhi xieshang huiyi), abbreviated CPPCC, is an advisory body in the Peoples Republic of China. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A native of Baodi County, Tianjin, and originally a carpenter, he was elected and reelected chairman of the 8th and 9th CPPCC National Committees in March 1993 and March 1998. Li Ruihuan is the sixth chairman of the CPPCC after Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping, Deng Yingchao, and Li Xiannian. Since this post has been held by some of the most prominent revolutionary elders, it is spoken of "noble and sacred" by reverent observers. The principal duties of the CPPCC chief are mainly advisory and conciliatory; Li's duties focused on mitigating conflict between different sectors of society, conferring on state affairs, and providing ideas for the top bodies of PRC central government for reference. Tianjin (Chinese: 天津; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Postal System Pinyin: Tientsin) is one of the four municipalities of the Peoples Republic of China. ... A carpenter is a skilled craftsman who performs carpentry -- a wide range of woodworking that includes constructing buildings, furniture, and other objects out of wood. ... March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... Cite error 4; Invalid call; no input specified 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... Zhou Enlai (Simplified: 周恩来; Traditional: 周恩來; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chou En-lai) (March 5, 1898 – January 8, 1976), a prominent Chinese Communist leader, was Premier of the Peoples Republic of China from 1949 until his death. ... Deng Xiaoping Deng Xiaoping â–¶ (help· info) (Simplified: 邓小平; Traditional: 鄧小平; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Teng Hsiao-ping; August 22, 1904—February 19, 1997) was a revolutionary leader in the Communist Party of China (CPC) who served as the de facto ruler of the Peoples Republic of China from the late... Deng Yingchao (邓颖超) (February 4, 1904 - July 11, 1992), was the Chairwoman of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference from 1983 to 1988 and a member of the Communist Party of China. ... Lǐ Xiānniàn (1902–June 21, 1992) was President of the Peoples Republic of China between 1983 and 1988 and then president of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference until his death. ...

Li, born into ordinary peasant family on September, 1934; worked as construction worker in Beijing Third Construction Company, 1951-1965; attended spare-time architecture engineering institute, 1958-1963; and received college certificate. September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with 30 days. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link goes to calendar). ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Inventor of the "simplified calculation method," which updated the traditional "lofting method" in carpentry, Li was known as "young Lu Ban," a legendary master carpenter in ancient China. He rose up the ranks of the construction industry and Tianjin politics. Lu Ban(鲁班 ?-?)was a famous architect of ancient China. ...

During his tenure of office as Tianjin mayor, he actively supported institutional restructuring, focusing attention on improving urban housing and public transport conditions. He gained great popularity among Tianjin residents with his call-in radio and television programs through which he directly answered residents' inquires in concrete terms. Tianjin (Chinese: 天津; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Postal System Pinyin: Tientsin) is one of the four municipalities of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

From 1989 on, he has been Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Observers speculated that the former carpenter and architect of the Great Hall of the People would play a key role in the question of leadership succession at the 16th party congress as CPPCC chief, if not also the future direction of political reform.-1... Great Hall of the People by Day. ...

Although the former Tianjin mayor has the same seniority as President Jiang Zemin, he has been relegated to the sidelines by Jiang since 1989. By 2002 there were reports from Beijing that Li had informed the Communist Party of China (CPC) headquarters three times of his desire to retire at the 2002 16th party congress. Tianjin (Chinese: 天津; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Postal System Pinyin: Tientsin) is one of the four municipalities of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Jiāng Zémín (born August 17, 1926) was the core of the third generation of Communist Party of China leaders, serving as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China from 1989 to 2002, as President of the Peoples Republic of China from 1993 to 2003, and... 2002 (MMII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... ▶ (help· info) or Peking is the capital of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ...

These reports struck many as unusual, given that Li, then 68, will be two years shy of 70 - the supposed retirement age for Politburo members - at the 16th congress, which endorsed a new CPC leadership. While sixty-eight would be considered retirement age most elsewhere, this is not an advanced age whatsoever for a top CPC cadre; in fact, at 68 Li was the second youngest member of the then seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, behind only Hu Jintao. Thus, many Li supporters assumed that he and Vice President Hu would have been the only two PSC incumbents to have their five-year terms renewed at the 16th congress. Thus, he would have been in place likely to assume the post of chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC), a post held by Li Peng prior to the party congress. The Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (Chinese: 中国共产党中央政治局常务委员会 pinyin: Zhōngguó GòngchÇŽndÇŽng Zhōngyāng Zhèngzhìjú Chángwù WÄ›iyuánhuì) is a committee whose membership varies between 5 and 9 and includes the top leadership of the Communist Party of China. ... Hú Jǐntāo (born December 21, 1942) is the fourth and current President of the Peoples Republic of China and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China. ... The Great Hall of the People, where the NPC convenes The National Peoples Congress (全国人民代表大会 in Pinyin: Quánguó Rénmín Dàibiǎo Dàhuì, literally Pan-Nation Congress of the Peoples Representatives), abbreviated PNCOTPR, is the highest legislative body in the Peoples Republic of China. ... LÄ­ Péng (Simplified Chinese: 李鹏, Traditional Chinese: 李鵬, Wade-Giles: Li Peng; pronounced Lee Pung) (b. ...

Some were even expecting that Li Ruihuan would have formed a triumvirate together in the post-16th congress PSC with Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao. Many expected that such a triumvirate would have relegated Jiang's "Shanghai clique," focused more on the countryside, and pushed for political reforms. All three cadres were considered to have enjoyed a good relationship since all three have links to the Communist Youth League, deemed a liberal offshoot of the CPC. Among current PSC members, Li is considered by most observers to be the most liberal, particularly on political matters. Hú Jǐntāo (born December 21, 1942) is the fourth and current President of the Peoples Republic of China and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China. ... Wen Jiabao (Simplified Chinese: 温家宝; Traditional Chinese: 溫家寶; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Wen Chia-pao) (born September 1942) is the Premier of the State Council of the Peoples Republic of China. ... The Communist Youth League of China (中国共产主义青年团; abbr. ...

While controversial among many in the party, who fear that he might be a Chinese Mikhail Gorbachev, Li's views about political liberalization, however, do not entail Western-style models. Li has favored an incremental, steady approach, such as fostering checks and balances by giving some real power to the 'democratic parties' as well as other groupings of non-CPC professionals and businessmen. It is at Li's insistence as CPPCC chief that the status of non-CCP members as well as members of the eight "democratic parties" (civic society groupings of academics, professionals and businessmen) has been raised. Now, most provincial and municipal governments have set aside a virtual quota of senior positions to be filled by non-party politicians and experts. Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (Gorbachyov) ▶ (help· info) (Russian: ; pronunciation: ) (born March 2, 1931), was leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991. ...

According to some China analysts, Li upset Jiang by disagreeing with measures taken against the Falun Gong spiritual movement. Li has not made any public denunciation on the practice, despite widespread government allegations of Falun Gong practitioners going insane, committing suicide, refusing medical treatment due to "cult" teachings, or killing family members due to the its "doomsday" preoccupations. (These allegations, however, surfaced only after the persecution started in July 1999; most Western observers have classified them as parts of a massive propaganda campaign launched by the Chinese authorities against Falun Gong.) Many detractors of Li have faulted him for ignoring the alleged "destabilizing impact" of Falun Gong on Chinese society due to a factional dispute with Jiang. Moreover, Li is said to have embarrassed the party in the West, where many "anti-China forces" have exploited the crackdown to condemn trade relations with the PRC. Falun emblem. ... 1999 is a common year starting on Friday Anno Domini (or the Current Era), and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Soviet propaganda poster from the Great Patriotic War depicting the victory of war hero General Georgi Zhukov over Nazi Germany. ...

His ostensibly early retirement led many to conclude that Jiang's Shanghai faction, and its representative figures such as Zeng Qinghong and Wu Bangguo, might have outmaneuvered Li and his supporters at the 16th party congress. As a retired official, the extent of his influence is unknown. Zeng Qinghong (曾庆红 Pinyin: Zēng Qìnghóng) (July 1939) became a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee during the 2002 16th Party Congress. ... Wu Bangguo Wu Bangguo (Traditional Chinese:吳邦國 , Simplified Chinese: 吴邦国, Hanyu Pinyin: Wú Bāngguó) (born July 1941) is a Chinese politician. ...

See also:

• Politics of China
• History of the PRC (1976-present)

State power within the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) is divided among three bodies: the Party, the State, and the Army. ... The Peoples Republic of China was proclaimed in the aftermath of the Communist Partys triumph in the Chinese Civil War by Mao Zedong on October 1, 1949. ...

External links

• Li Ruihuan biography @ China Vitae, the web's largest online database of China VIPs