Li Jinai, native of Tengzhou, Shandong Province, was born in July 1942. He joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in May 1965 and began to work in September 1966. He joined the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in December 1967. He graduated from the Engineering Mechanics Department of Harbin Institute of Technology. As a university graduate, he holds the military rank of a general.

He is now a member of the Central Military Commission and director of PLA General Armament Department.

1961-1966: Student of the Engineering Mechanics Department of Harbin Institute of Technology.

1966-1967: Stayed at university, waiting for job assignment.

1967-1969: Soldier of 8th Company, 2nd Battalion, 253 Construction Regiment, Engineering Corps.

1969-1970: Clerk of the Organization Branch, deputy platoon leader, 807 Regiment, 2nd Artillery.

1970-1970: Clerk of Publicity Division, Political Department of 52nd Base, 2nd Artillery.

1970-1977: Deputy head and deputy political commissar of the Publicity Branch, 811th Regiment, 2nd Artillery.

1977-1983: Head of Youth Section, deputy division head and concurrently head of the Youth Section and head of the Organization Section, Organization Division, Political Department of 2nd Artillery.

1983-1985: Deputy political commissar, 54th Base, 2nd Artillery (working at the Party Consolidation Office of the PLA from December 1983 to February 1985).

1985-1990: Head of Cadres' Department, PLA General Political Department.

1990-1992: Deputy director of PLA General Political Department (enjoying the treatment equivalent to that of a deputy commander of any major military command).

1992-1995: Deputy political commissar of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.

1995-1998: Political commissar of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.

1998-2002: Political commissar and deputy secretary of the Party committee of PLA General Armament Department.

2002-: Member of the CPC Central Military Commission and director of PLA General Armament Department.

In March 2003, he was also appointed as member of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China.

He, an alternate member of the 14th CPC Central Committee and member of 15th CPC Central Committee, is now a member of the 16th CPC Central Committee.