Zheng Lizhong

Zheng Lizhong (born in October 1951, Chinese: 郑立中), born in Xiapu, Fujian Province, is a Chinese politician. He formerly held positions as a member of the Standing Committee of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Vice Chairman of the Committee for Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese, and Executive Vice President of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS).

He commenced his career in February 1969 and became a member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in December 1978. A graduate of the School of Economics and Management at Jilin University, he obtained a master's degree in national economic planning and management via part-time postgraduate study and possesses the designation of Researcher.^[1]

He commenced his career as an urban teenager dispatched to the countryside (1969–1971), thereafter occupying numerous positions within the geological sector, including laborer, materials allocator, finance department officer, deputy division head, company manager, and division head. From 1987 to 1991, he obtained his master's degree while serving as director of operations and manager at the Fujian Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. He was then elevated to the position of deputy director of the bureau.^[1]

From 1995 to 1996, he served concurrently as deputy party secretary of Zhangzhou and principal of the municipal Party school. He then held the positions of Director of the Provincial Department of Geology and Mineral Resources, Director of the Fujian Geological Survey Bureau, and later, Director of the Provincial Planning Commission. He held the position of Secretary of the CCP Zhangzhou Municipal Committee from March to April 2001. From April to December 2001, he held the positions of Secretary of the CCP Zhangzhou Municipal Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Zhangzhou Municipal People's Congress. From December 2001 to May 2002, he held the positions of Member of the Standing Committee of the CCP Fujian Provincial Committee, Secretary of the CCP Zhangzhou Municipal Committee, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Zhangzhou Municipal People's Congress.^[2] From May to June 2002, he held the position of Member of the Standing Committee of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. From June 2002 until May 2005, he held the position of Member of the Standing Committee of the Fujian Provincial CCP Committee and Secretary of the Xiamen Municipal Committee of the CCP.^[3]

From 2005 to 2017, he occupied prominent roles concerning Taiwan affairs and cross-strait relations, including deputy director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Executive Vice President of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, and Standing Committee Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, where he additionally held the position of Vice Chair of the Committee for Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese.^[4][5]

Zheng served as a delegate to the 16th and 17th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, an alternate member of the 16th and 17th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, and a Standing Committee member of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, concurrently holding the position of Vice Chair of the Committee on Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and Overseas Chinese.^[3][6]

On February 28, 2017, the 19th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) ratified the “Decision on the Dismissal of Zheng Lizhong from His Positions as Standing Committee Member of the 12th CPPCC National Committee and Vice Chairman of the Committee for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and Overseas Chinese Affairs, and the Revocation of His Membership.”^[5] In light of Zheng Lizhong's egregious disciplinary infractions, and following the recommendation of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, as well as in accordance with the Charter of the CPPCC and pertinent regulations, the meeting resolved to dismiss Zheng Lizhong from his roles as Standing Committee Member and Vice Chairman of the Committee for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and Overseas Chinese Affairs of the 12th CPPCC National Committee, and to rescind his membership in the 12th CPPCC National Committee.^[7][8]