Liu Qibao, of the Han ethnic group, is a native of Susong, Anhui Province. He was born in January 1953, and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in December 1971. He started his career in September 1974, and got his Master's degree in Economics from Jilin University in February 1992.

Liu's educational and employment background is as follows:

Apr. 1972-Sep. 1974: Studied in History Department of Anhui Normal University.

Sep. 1974-Jul. 1977: Research staff with the Theoretical Research Section of the Anhui Provincial Party Committee's Publicity Department.

Jul. 1977-Jun. 1980: Secretary of the Secretariat of Anhui Provincial Party Committee's General Office.

Jun. 1980-Sep. 1982: Deputy director of the Information Office of the Anhui Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC).

Sep. 1983-Nov. 1985: Secretary of the CYLC Anhui Provincial Committee.

Nov. 1985-Aug. 1993: Secretary of the Secretariat of CYLC Central Committee.

Aug 1993-Jul. 1994: Deputy editor-in-chief of People's Daily.

Jul. 1994-Sep. 2000: Deputy secretary-general of State Council.

Sep. 2000-Jun. 2006: Deputy Secretary of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee, and concurrently dean of the committee’s Party School as of Dec. 2000. 　

Jun. 2006: Appointed secretary of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee.

Dec. 2007: Appointed secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee.