Wang Qishan

About

Chinese politician and current Vice President of the People's Republic of China. He is one of the leading figures behind China's foreign affairs and one of President Xi Jinping closest political allies.

Before Fame

After graduating high school, he worked as a sent-down youth in the countryside, performing manual labour with peasants on a commune in the revolutionary heartland of Yan'an, where he met his future wife and befriended Xi Jinping. He was admitted as a "Worker-Peasant-Soldier student" at Northwest University in Xi'an, where he studied history and graduated in 1976. He also worked in the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Trivia

He is a fan of House of Cards, and frequently alluded to the show during anti-corruption conferences. He has also admitted to being especially fascinated by the role of the party Whip.

Family Life

He was born in Qingdao, Shandong, but his ancestral hometown is considered Tianzhen, Shanxi. He met Yao Mingshan while working on a commune in Yan'an, and the two later wed. She is the daughter of former first Vice Premier of China, Yao Yilin, which is why he is sometimes considered a "princeling" through his marriage. The two have no children. 

Associated With

He attended the funeral of Elizabeth II. He has also met with leaders such as Henry Kissinger and Barack Obama.