Ethnic Han, born in April 1942, native of Cixi of Zhejiang Province. Joined Communist Party of China (CPC) in May 1974. Started working in September 1964.

Graduated from Machinery Department of Zhejiang University, obtained doctorate in Engineering Science at Aachen Industrial University, Federal Republic of Germany. Postgraduate education, doctorate degree, professorship, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE).

Member of CPC Central Committee, vice-chairman of 11th NPC Standing Committee, member of Leading Party Members' Group, president of CAS and secretary of its CPC committee.

1959-1964 Studied at Faculty of Machinery Engineering of Zhejiang University, majoring in hydraulic machinery

1964-1965 Worked as member of social education work group in Zhejiang Province

1965-1979 Worked as teaching assistant and lecturer at Faculty of Machinery Engineering in Zhejiang University

1979-1981 Served as guest researcher at Aachen Industrial University in Germany, obtained doctorate in engineering science

1981-1985 Worked successively as lecturer and associate professor at Faculty of Machinery Engineering; director and professor of Laboratory of Fluidic Transmission and Control and Release; deputy director of Institute of Science and Technology of Zhejiang University

1985-1988 Served as vice-president of China Association for Science and Technology (CAST); deputy secretary of higher learning work committee of CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee; vice-president of Zhejiang University and member of university's CPC committee.

1988-1993 Served as vice-president of CAST; deputy secretary of higher learning work committee of CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee; president of Zhejiang University; standing committee member of CPC committee of Zhejiang University (vice-chairman of International Association for Continuing Engineering Education from 1989 to 1992, academician of Third World Academy of Sciences in 1990 and academician of CAS in 1991)

1993-1995 Vice-president of CAS and member of its Leading Party Members' Group; vice-president of CAST; president of Zhejiang University; (academician of CAE in 1994) 1995-1996 Vice-president of CAS and member of its Leading Party Members' Group and vice-president of CAST

1996-1997 Vice-president of CAS and member of its Leading Party Members' Group

1997-2003 President of CAS and member of its Leading Party Members' Group; executive president of Presidium of CAS Academic Divisions; (working as vice-president of Third World Academy of Sciences from 1998 to 2003).

2003-2008 Vice-chairman of 10th NPC Standing Committee and member of Leading Party Members' Group; president of CAS and secretary of its CPC committee; executive president of Presidium of CAS Academic Divisions; (vice-president of Academy of Sciences for Developing World 2003-2006; elected co-chairman of Inter-Academy Council in 2005)

2008- Vice-chairman of 11th NPC Standing Committee and member of its Leading Party Members' Group; president of CAS and secretary of its CPC committee; executive president of Presidium of CAS Academic Divisions

Alternate member of 12th and 13th CPC central committees, member of 14th to 17th CPC central committees, vice-chairman of 10th and 11th NPC standing committees.