# Liu Guozhong

Liu Guozhong (Chinese: 刘国中; pinyin: Liú Guózhōng; born July 1962) is a Chinese politician and a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party who has served as a vice premier of China since March 2023.
He began his career in Heilongjiang province before serving stints at the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and as deputy party secretary of Sichuan. He had served as Governor of Jilin and Shaanxi from 2016 to 2020. He served as the Party Secretary of Shaanxi from 2020 to 2022.

## Early life

Liu was born in Wangkui County, Heilongjiang province. He joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in November 1986. He attended the Nanjing Institute of Technology where he majored in artillery system fuse design and manufacturing, and has a graduate degree from the Harbin Institute of Technology.

## Political career

Liu began his political career in the General Office of the provincial government of Heilongjiang, serving as a clerk, deputy chief clerk and chief clerk in the Comprehensive Planning Division of the Economic Commission in 1990. He served as a chief clerk in the First Division of the General Office of the Heilongjiang provincial government in 1993. He became the deputy director of the First Division in 1996, becoming its director in 1998. In 2000, he became the deputy director of the Research Office of the provincial government, becoming its director in 2003.
He became the deputy director of Research and party secretary of Hegang in 2004. He was appointed a member of the Heilongjiang provincial party standing committee in April 2007, then the secretary-general of the party committee in May the same year, and in September 2011, named executive vice governor of Heilongjiang.
In October 2013, Liu was named a member of the Secretariat of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions.
In February 2016, he was transferred to become deputy party secretary of Sichuan. He served for ten months, before being transferred to Jilin to become acting governor, confirmed by the provincial People's Congress on January 19, 2017.

### Shaanxi

In December 2017, he was appointed as deputy party secretary of Shaanxi. Later he was appointed as the Governor. In July 2020, he was appointed to be the party secretary of Shaanxi succeeding Hu Heping. During his tenure in September 2021, Xi'an hosted the National Games of China; Liu said the games would help achieve the Chinese Dream. He also saw Shaanxi's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was succeeded as Party secretary of Shaanxi on 27 November 2022, being succeeded by Zhao Yide.

### Vice Premier

After the 20th Party National Congress, he was elected as a member of the CCP Politburo. In January 2023, he visited Sichuan and Chongqing, calling for stronger medical response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 12 March 2023, he was appointed as a vice premier of China. His portfolio included agriculture and rural affairs, health, poverty alleviation, and meteorology.
Liu toured Beijing and Hebei in August 2023, after floods and mudslides hit Xi'an. In September 2023, Liu visited North Korea to attend the country's 75th national day parade. Liu also met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. In January 2024, Liu visited Uganda to attend the Non-Aligned Movement summit and the Third South Summit. In May 2024, addressing the members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Liu said China needed to "systematically plan its population policy and increase social support for childbearing to alleviate the financial burdens associated with parenthood and children’s education".