Ling Jihua, 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.

Head of United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

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.

2007-2012: Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.

2007-: Member of the Secretariat and 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.