Li Yuanchao, 56, was elected secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Sunday.

Li, a native of Lianshui of Jiangsu, was elected to the post at the First Plenary Session of the 11th Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the CPC.

Li joined the CPC in 1978. He graduated from the Mathematics Department of Fudan University in 1982, and got a master's degree in economic management of Beijing University in 1986.

After 1983, he served as member of the secretariat of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC). In 1990 he was elected vice-chairman of the 7th All-China Youth Federation.

Li served as vice minister of culture from March 1996 to 2000, and was appointed Standing Committee member and deputy secretary of CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee in Oct. 2000.

Li was elected deputy secretary and member of Standing Committee of 10th CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee in Nov. 2001. Li was a delegate to 15th CPC National Congress and an alternate member of 16th CPC Central Committee.

Li was appointed as secretary of CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee in 2002.

(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2006)