The following is the biographical sketch of Ling Jihua:

Ling Jihua, male, ethnic Han, native of Pinglu, Shanxi Province, born in October 1956. Joined the CPC in June 1976 and began working in December 1973. Graduated as MBA from Hunan University with part-time postgraduate education.

Member of the Secretariat and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and deputy director of the General Office of the Committee for the Reform of Central Departments.

1973-1975 Educated youth in rural areas in Pinglu County, Shanxi Province, and worker at the Pinglu County Printing House

1975-1978 Cadre and deputy secretary of the CYLC Pinglu County Committee

1978-1979 Staff member of the CPC Yuncheng Prefectural Committee of Shanxi Province

1979-1983 Staff member of the Publicity Department of the CYLC Central Committee (1982-1983: seconded to the General Office of the CPC Hebei Provincial Committee)

1983-1985 Student majoring in political education at the China Youth Political College

1985-1988 Deputy director of the Theoretical Studies Division of the Publicity Department of the CYLC Central Committee

1988-1990 Director of the General Office of the Secretariat of the CYLC Central Committee

1990-1994 Deputy director general of the General Office of the CYLC Central Committee and editor-in-chief of the Youth League Journal

1994-1995 Director general of the Publicity Department of the CYLC Central Committee

1995-1996 Person in charge of Group No. 3 of the research office under the General Office of the CPC Central Committee

1996-1997 Chief of group No. 3 of the research office under the General Office of the CPC Central Committee (from 1994 to 1996, studied in an off-campus MBA program run by Hunan University and graduated with an MBA degree)

1997-1998 Deputy director general of the research office of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee

1998-1999 Director general of the research office of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee

1999-2000 Deputy director (vice minister) of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and director general of its research office

2000-2003 Deputy director (vice minister) of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and director general of its research office, as well as deputy director of the General Office of the Committee for the Reform of Central Departments

2003-2007 Deputy director (executive, ranking as minister) of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, deputy director of the General Office of the Committee for the Reform of Central Departments

2007- Member of the Secretariat and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and deputy director of the General Office of the Committee for the Reform of Central Departments.

Alternate member of the Sixteenth CPC Central Committee and member of the Seventeenth CPC Central Committee and its Secretariat.

(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2007)