Wen Jiabao, << wuhn jyah bow >> (1942-…), was premier of China from 2003 to 2013. As premier, Wen oversaw China’s economic policy. He promoted more balanced economic development among the various regions of China. In addition, he helped lead China’s response to an outbreak of a serious disease called severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003.
Wen was born in Tianjin in September 1942. In 1960, he entered the Beijing Institute of Geology. In 1965, he joined the Chinese Communist Party. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the institute, in 1965 and 1968 respectively. From 1968 to 1982, he worked as a geologist in the remote northwestern province of Gansu.
In 1982, Wen began working for China’s Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources, and in 1983, he was promoted to vice minister. In 1985, he was appointed deputy director of the general office of the Central Committee. The committee is one of the main administrative bodies of the Chinese Communist Party. In 1986, he became director of the general office, a position he held until 1993. As director, he served as chief of staff for three heads of the party—Hu Yaobang, Zhao Ziyang, and Jiang Zemin. The Communist Party dominates China’s government, and the head of the party usually is the country’s most powerful leader. In 1997, Wen became a full member of the Politburo, the party’s main policymaking body.
Wen served as a vice premier of China from 1998 to 2003. In that position, he handled agricultural affairs and banking reform. He also oversaw a major flood response effort in 1998. He succeeded Zhu Rongji as premier of China in 2003.
