Jia Qinglin, a native of Botou, Hebei Province, was born in March 1940. He joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in December 1959 and began working in October 1962. He graduated with a major of electric motor and appliance design and manufacture of the Department of Electric Power of Hebei Engineering College. He holds the academic title of engineer. He serves as member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.  

1956-1958: Student majoring in the industrial enterprise planning in Shijiazhuang Industrial Management School.

1958-1962: Student majoring in electric motor and appliance design and manufacture of the Department of Electric Power of Hebei Engineering College.

1962-1969: Technician of the Complete Plant Bureau of the First Machine-Building Industry Ministry and deputy secretary of its CYLC organization.

1969-1971: Did manual work in the May 7th Cadre School of the First Machine-Building Industry Ministry in Fengxin County, Jiangxi Province.

1971-1973: Technician of the Policy Research Office of the General Office of the First Machine-Building Industry Ministry.

1973-1978: Chief of the Product Management Bureau of the First Ministry of Machine-building Industry.

1978-1983: General manager of China National Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Corporation.

1983-1985: Director of Taiyuan Heavy Machinery Plant and secretary of its Party committee.

1985-1986: Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and its deputy secretary.

1986-1988: Deputy secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and head of the Organization Department of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee.

1988-1990: Deputy secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, president of the Party School of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and secretary of the Work Committee of Departments under the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee.

1990-1991: Deputy secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, deputy governor and acting governor of Fujian Province.

1991-1993: Deputy secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and governor of Fujian Province.

1993-1994: Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and governor of Fujian Province.

1994-1996: Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the Fujian Provincial People's Congress.

1996-1997: Deputy secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, vice-mayor, acting mayor and mayor of Beijing.

1997-1999: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and mayor of Beijing.

1999-2002: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee.

2002-: Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

March 2003: Elected chairman of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

He was member of the 14th and 15th CPC Central Committees and member of the Political Bureau of the 15th CPC Central Committee. He is member of the 16th CPC Central Committee, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 16th CPC Central Committee.