Liu Guoqiang

Liu Guoqiang
刘国强
Vice-Chairman of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)
In office
January 2013 – January 2017
ChairmanXia Deren
Vice-Governor of Liaoning
In office
May 2001 – January 2013
GovernorBo XilaiZhang WenyueChen Zhenggao
Mayor of Benxi
In office
March 2000 – May 2001
Preceded byWu Qicheng
Succeeded byLi Bo
Personal details
BornDecember 1953 (age 70–71)
Benxi, Liaoning, China
Political partyChinese Communist Party (expelled)
SpouseChen Chiping
Alma materDalian Jiaotong University
Northeastern University
OccupationEngineer, politician
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLiú Guóqiáng

Liu Guoqiang (Chinese: 刘国强; born December 1953) is a former Chinese politician. He spent his entire career in his home-province Liaoning. He was investigated by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in July 2020, and has since retired. Prior to that, he served as vice-chairman of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) from 2013 to 2017, vice-governor of Liaoning from 2001 to 2013, and mayor of Benxi from 2000 to 2001.[1] He was a delegate to the 10th and 11th National People's Congress.

In November 2022, Liu was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for bribery.[2]

Early life and education

Liu was born in Benxi, Liaoning, in December 1953. After the outbreak of the Cultural Revolution, he became a sent-down youth in his home-county for a short time. In September 1970, he joined as a worker at the Department of Transport of Benxi Iron and Steel Company, where he worked for almost eight years. In March 1978, he was accepted to Dalian Railway Institute (now Dalian Jiaotong University). After graduating in January 1982, he continued to work at Benxi Iron and Steel Company. He served in various posts before serving as general manager in May 1997.[citation needed]

Political career

He began his political career in March 2000, when he was appointed Chinese Communist Party Deputy Committee Secretary, vice-mayor and acting mayor of Benxi. After just one year and two months, he was elevated to vice-governor of Liaoning, a position he held until January 2013. During his term in office, he was in charge of industry and production safety. In February 2005, the 2005 Sunjiawan mine disaster occurred, at least 214 coal miners were killed, he was suspended and made a self-criticism.[3] Then he became the vice-chairman of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and served in the post until his retirement in January 2017.[citation needed]

Investigation

On July 13, 2020, he was put under investigation for alleged "serious violations of discipline and laws", the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said in a statement on its website, without elaborating.[4]

On January 11, 2021, he was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party and dismissed from public office.[5][6] Prosecutors signed an arrest order for him on January 22.[7]

On November 8, 2022, Liu was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for taking bribes over 352 million yuan (48 million U.S. dollars) by the Tianjin First Intermediate People's Court.[2]

Personal life

Liu married Chen Chiping (陈持平), who died in a plane crash on June 1, 2009. Liu and his late wife were alleged to have used public money to pay for an expensive overseas holiday disguised as a business trip.[8]

References

  1. ^ Zhang Kaixin (张楷欣) (13 July 2020). 辽宁省政协原副主席刘国强涉嫌严重违纪违法被查. chinanews.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Former senior political advisor of Liaoning sentenced to death with reprieve". xinhuanet.com. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  3. ^ Yu Jintao (于津涛) (2 March 2005). 辽宁副省长刘国强停职预示中央政令正走向畅通. Sohu (in Chinese). Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Senior provincial political advisor under investigation". chinadaily.com.cn. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  5. ^ Xinhua (11 January 2021). "Former Liaoning Province senior political advisor expelled from CPC". people.cn. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  6. ^ 辽宁省政协原副主席刘国强盲目听信“政治骗子”,花费巨资跑官买官被骗. Tencent. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  7. ^ Tong Haiqing (佟海晴) (23 January 2021). 最高人民检察院依法对刘国强决定逮捕. spp.gov.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Liaoning official 'used public cash for trip'". South China Morning Post. 19 June 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
Government offices
Preceded by
Wu Qicheng (吴启成)
Mayor of Benxi
2000-2001
Succeeded by
Li Bo (李波)