Zhang Lianzhen

Zhang Lianzhen (Chinese: 张连珍; pinyin: Zhāng Liánzhēn; born April 1951) is a retired Chinese politician who served as chairwoman and Party Secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). She is currently Director of the Jiangsu Provincial Working Committee for the Care of the Next Generation.^[1]

Zhang was born in April 1951 in Jianhu County, Jiangsu Province. She joined the Chinese Communist Party in June 1973 and began working in April 1974. She graduated from the Central Party School with a graduate degree. From January 1968 to October 1970, Zhang worked as a private school teacher at Xingwang Primary School in Yanhe Commune, Jianhu County. She then studied biology at the Department of Biology of East China Normal University until April 1974.^[2]

She subsequently served in various posts in rural Jiangsu, including deputy leader and leader of work teams in Gongdun Commune, Zhongzhuang Commune, and Linhuai Commune. In November 1977, she became Party Secretary of Linhuai Commune, Binhai County. In April 1981, she was appointed deputy county magistrate and later deputy Party secretary and executive deputy county magistrate of Binhai County.^[3]

From September 1983 to September 1985, she attended the Training Department of the Central Party School. Upon graduation, she became vice chairwoman and deputy Party secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Women's Federation. In October 1990, she was appointed deputy Party secretary of the Xuzhou Municipal Committee. In September 1993, she was transferred to the All-China Women's Federation, serving as secretary of the Secretariat and member of its Party group.^[4]

From October 1995 to November 2001, Zhang served as vice governor and Party group member of Jiangsu Provincial People's Government. She became a member of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee in November 2001, and served concurrently as vice governor until February 2003, when she became full-time deputy Party secretary of Jiangsu Province.^[5]

From April 2003 to November 2006, she continued as deputy Party secretary, and from November 2006 to January 2008, she concurrently served as president of the Jiangsu Provincial Party School. In January 2008, she was elected chairwoman and Party secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial CPPCC, serving until February 2017. Between 2017 and March 2023, she was vice chairwoman of the Committee on Education, Science, Health and Sports of the 13th CPPCC National Committee.^[6] In June 2023, she became director of the Jiangsu Provincial Working Committee for the Care of the Next Generation.^[7]

Zhang was a delegate to the 15th, 17th, and 18th National Congresses of the Chinese Communist Party, an alternate member of the 17th Central Committee of the CCP, a deputy to the 10th National People's Congress, and a member of the 11th and 13th CPPCC National Committees. She was also a member of the 12th Jiangsu Provincial Committee, a deputy to the 11th through 14th Jiangsu Provincial People's Congresses, and a member of the 10th and 11th Jiangsu Provincial CPPCC Committees.^[8]