Wu Yi (1938–)

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Wu Yi (1938–)

Chinese politician. Born 1938 in Wuhan, Hubei, China; graduate of the Beijing Petroleum Institute with a degree in petroleum engineering; never married; no children.

One of China's most beloved and open politicians, joined the Communist Party (1962); worked in the oil industry for years; served as vice mayor of Beijing (1988–91); as China's chief trade negotiator, was vice minister of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade, then minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, and member of the 14th and 15th CPC Central committees (1991–98); a protege of Zhu Ronqi, was named a state councillor (1998); became one of four vice premiers of the State Council (2003); appointed health minister during the SARS crisis (2003).