Chen Jining

{{short description|Chinese academic and politician|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = Chen Jining 2019.png

| caption =

| office = Party Secretary of Shanghai

| 1blankname = Mayor

| 1namedata = Gong Zheng

| term_start = 28 October 2022

| predecessor = Li Qiang

| office1 = Mayor of Beijing

| term_start1 = 27 May 2017

| term_end1 = 28 October 2022

| predecessor1 = Cai Qi

| successor1 = Yin Yong

| 1blankname1 = Party Secretary

| 1namedata1 = Cai Qi

| office2 = Minister of Environmental Protection

| term_start2 = 27 February 2015

| term_end2 = 27 June 2017

| predecessor2 = Zhou Shengxian

| successor2 = Li Ganjie

| premier2 = Li Keqiang

| office3 = President of Tsinghua University

| term_start3 = 20 February 2012

| term_end3 = 28 January 2015

| predecessor3 = Gu Binglin

| successor3 = Qiu Yong

| name = Chen Jining

| native_name = {{nobold|陈吉宁}}

| native_name_lang = zh

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1964|2|4}}

| birth_place = Gaizhou, Liaoning, China

| occupation = {{hlist|academic|environmental engineer|ecologist|politician}}

| party = Chinese Communist Party

| spouse = Cathy Hu{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}

| alma_mater = {{ indented plainlist |

}}

| module = {{Infobox scientist

| embed = yes

| field = Civil engineering

| thesis_title = Modelling and control of the activated sludge process: towards a systematic framework

| thesis_url = https://spiral.imperial.ac.uk/entities/publication/eb46e2ea-dbe1-4f4c-812b-f178de677431

| thesis_year = 1993

| doctoral_advisor = M. B. Beck

}}

Chen Jining ({{lang-zh|s=陈吉宁|p=Chén Jíníng}}; born 4 February 1964) is a Chinese environmental scientist, academic administrator and politician who has been serving as Party Secretary of Shanghai and member of the 20th Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party since October 2022.

Chen graduated from the Imperial College London with a PhD in environmental systems analysis in 1992. Staying at the Imperial College after his graduation, he completed his postdoctoral studies in 1994 and served as an assistant researcher from 1994 to 1997. In 1998, he returned to his undergraduate alma mater Tsinghua University in Beijing to serve as vice chair of the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering. He then served as the university's vice president from 2006 to 2007, executive vice president from 2007 to 2012, and president from 2012 to 2015.

Joining the Chinese government in 2015, Chen served as Minister of Environmental Protection from 2015 to 2017, Vice Mayor of Beijing from 2017 to 2018, and Mayor of Beijing from 2018 to 2022. In October 2022, he was appointed as the Party Secretary of Shanghai and joined the CCP Politburo.

Early life and education

Chen was born and raised in Gaizhou, Yingkou, Liaoning province in Northeast China. His ancestral home is in Lishu County, Siping, Jilin.

Chen started his undergraduate studies at Tsinghua University in 1981. From Tsinghua University, he received a Bachelor of Engineering with a major in civil and environmental engineering in 1986 and a Master of Science in environmental engineering in 1988. Chen traveled to the United Kingdom for graduate studies at Brunel University London in 1988. Chen transferred to Imperial College London in 1989, where he graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in civil engineering in 1992.[https://www.imperial.ac.uk/civil-engineering/alumni/alumni-profiles/phd-graduate-1993---chen-jining/ PhD graduate 1993 - Chen Jining] - website of Imperial College London[http://www.tsinghua.edu.cn/publish/enven/6309/2011/20110215103531673892120/20110215103531673892120_.html Chen Jining] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706022840/http://www.tsinghua.edu.cn/publish/enven/6309/2011/20110215103531673892120/20110215103531673892120_.html |date=2018-07-06 }} - website of Tsinghua University{{Cite web |title=二十大代表中的留学人员（四） - 中国留学人才发展基金会 |url=http://www.cosdf.org.cn/news_view.aspx?nid=2&typeid=50226&id=1841 |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=www.cosdf.org.cn}}

After receiving his doctorate, Chen worked at Imperial College London as a postdoctoral researcher from 1992 to 1994 and as an assistant researcher from 1994 to 1998.{{cite web |url=http://www.chinapictorial.com.cn/en/people/txt/2015-05/07/content_686613.htm |title=Chen Jining: Environmental Protector |work=China Pictorial |access-date=30 October 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064735/http://www.chinapictorial.com.cn/en/people/txt/2015-05/07/content_686613.htm |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |author=Bo Zhiyue |date=2015-03-04 |title=China's New Environmental Minister: A Rising Star |url=https://thediplomat.com/2015/03/chinas-new-environmental-minister-a-rising-star/ |newspaper=The Diplomat}}

Academic career

In March 1998, Chen left England to serve as deputy director of the Department of Environmental Engineering at Tsinghua University in Beijing. He was promoted and served as the department director from 1999 to 2006.{{Cite web |title=陈吉宁简历 _中国网 |url=http://guoqing.china.com.cn/zy/2018-02/27/content_50496765.htm |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=guoqing.china.com.cn}}

In February 2006, he was appointed as vice-president of Tsinghua University, a year later, he was promoted to become the Executive Vice-president. He concurrently served as Dean of the Graduate School of Tsinghua University from January 2010 to February 2012, Dean of the Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University between January 2010 to July 2011.

In February 2012, Chen was appointed president of Tsinghua University, he remained in that position until January 2015, when he was appointed Minister of Environmental Protection of China.{{cite news |date=2012-02-21 |title=State Council Appoints Dr. Chen Jining President Tsinghua University |url=http://news.tsinghua.edu.cn/publish/newsen/6054/2012/20120221094051432728980/20120221094051432728980_.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402092951/http://news.tsinghua.edu.cn/publish/newsen/6054/2012/20120221094051432728980/20120221094051432728980_.html |archive-date=2015-04-02 |publisher=Tsinghua University}}{{cite magazine |author=Zhou Qunfeng |date=September 2016 |title=Chen Jining: Green Warrior |url=http://www.newschinamag.com/newschina/articleDetail.do?article_id=961§ion_id=39&magazine_id=9 |magazine=News China |issn=1943-1902 |access-date=2019-07-22}}{{Cite book |last=Hu |first=Richard |title=Reinventing the Chinese City |date=2023 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-21101-7 |location=New York}}{{Rp|page=47}} At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest member of Li Keqiang's cabinet. In 2015, he was also a member of the judging panel for the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering.

Political career

= Ministry of Ecology and Environment =

Chen succeeded Zhou Shengxian as party secretary of the Ministry of Environmental Protection on 28 January 2015.{{cite web|url=http://news.163.com/15/0128/19/AH2Q35OT00014SEH.html|title=陈吉宁任环保部党组书记曾赞学生捍卫PX词条|access-date=2015-01-28|publisher=网易|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150131231621/http://news.163.com/15/0128/19/AH2Q35OT00014SEH.html|archive-date=2015-01-31|url-status=dead}} He was appointed minister later that year,{{cite web|url=http://news.163.com/15/0227/15/AJFJ3S010001124J.html|title=陈吉宁被任命为环境保护部部长|access-date=2015-02-27|publisher=网易|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227114330/http://news.163.com/15/0227/15/AJFJ3S010001124J.html|archive-date=2015-02-27|url-status=dead}} becoming the youngest national minister at the time, at age 50.{{cite news|url=http://www.guancha.cn/politics/2015_02_28_310548.shtml|title=清华大学校长陈吉宁获任环保部长成李克强政府最年轻"阁员"|publisher=Guancha|date=2015-02-28|access-date=2015-03-01|archive-date=2017-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201090718/http://www.guancha.cn/politics/2015_02_28_310548.shtml}}

During his term, Under the Dome, a film about air pollution in Northern China, was released. Chen praised the film and thanked its producer.{{Cite web |title=环保部长：我完整看了《穹顶之下》柴静没给我增加压力 |url=http://ent.ifeng.com/a/20150302/42262401_0.shtml |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=ent.ifeng.com |archive-date=2022-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115163401/https://ent.ifeng.com/a/20150302/42262401_0.shtml |url-status=live }} Under the Dome was initially promoted by Chinese state media, but all mentions were removed and the film was censored in March.{{cite web|url=http://finance.sina.com/gb/wsj-ftchinese/ftchinese/20150306/02141220851.html|title=上海媒体员工因《穹顶之下》被停职|publisher=Sina North America|work=Financial News|date=2015-03-06|access-date=2016-02-11|language=zh-cn|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215161146/http://finance.sina.com/gb/wsj-ftchinese/ftchinese/20150306/02141220851.html|archive-date=2016-02-15}}{{cite news|url=http://www.voachinese.com/content/china-pulishment-20150306/2670053.html|title=第一财经雇员因泄露中宣部密令被停职|publisher=Voice of America|date=2015-03-06|access-date=2016-02-11|language=zh|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215172318/http://www.voachinese.com/content/china-pulishment-20150306/2670053.html|archive-date=2016-02-15}} Chen subsequently stopped mentioning the film in all public events.{{cite news|title=环保部长陈吉宁回应雾霾治理(实录)|url=http://topics.caixin.com/2015-03-07/100789103.html|publisher=Caixin News|date=2015-03-07|access-date=2015-03-15|language=zh-cn|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402154048/http://topics.caixin.com/2015-03-07/100789103.html|archive-date=2015-04-02}}{{cite news|url=http://www.voachinese.com/content/china-ban-under-the-dome-20150309/2672842.html|title=中国环保部长记者会回避柴静雾霾片|date=2015-03-09|publisher=Voice of America|access-date=2016-02-11|language=zh-cn|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215171454/http://www.voachinese.com/content/china-ban-under-the-dome-20150309/2672842.html|archive-date=2016-02-15}}

In September 2015, Chen pledged to make eight agencies affiliated with the Ministry independent by the end of next year, or revoke their qualifications otherwise.{{Cite news |last=Gan |first=Nectar |date=1 September 2015 |title=Crusading Chinese official who took on polluters returns to oversee industry eco-reviews |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1854396/sidelined-no-longer-chinese-government-champion-holding |access-date=19 December 2024 |work=South China Morning Post}} In March 2016, the Ministry of Environmental Protection announced major internal reforms, transitioning from hitting environmental targets to exercising comprehensive governance.{{Cite news |last=Li |first=Jing |date=3 March 2016 |title=China's environment ministry unveils restructuring plan aimed at making it more effective |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1920423/chinas-environment-ministry-unveils-restructuring-plan |access-date=19 December 2024 |work=South China Morning Post}} Chen held an emergency meeting in October 2016 after Beijing was put on yellow smog alert.{{Cite news |date=2 October 2016 |title=Beijing on pollution alert as smog season sets in |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2024483/beijing-pollution-alert-smog-season-sets |access-date=19 December 2024 |work=South China Morning Post}} In January 2017, he inspected the monitoring of emissions on highways and industrial areas.{{Cite news |last1=Zhuang |first1=Pinghui |last2=Zhou |first2=Laura |date=7 January 2017 |title=Schools in smog-choked Beijing to install air purifiers |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2060051/schools-smog-choked-beijing-install-air-purifiers |access-date=19 December 2024 |work=South China Morning Post}}

= Beijing city government =

File:United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Shanghai Chinese Communist Party Secretary Chen Jining in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, April 25, 2024 (cropped).jpg met Shanghai Chinese Communist Party Secretary Chen Jining in Shanghai on April 25, 2024.]]

In May 2017, Chen was appointed acting Mayor of Beijing, becoming the 17th person to hold the office since the founding of the People's Republic of China.{{cite news|url=http://news.sina.com.cn/c/nd/2017-05-27/doc-ifyfqvmh9306766.shtml|language=zh-cn |script-title=zh:陈吉宁任北京代市长|work=Sina News |date=2017-05-27|access-date=2017-05-27}}{{Cite news |date=2022-10-28 |title=China's Yin Yong named acting Beijing mayor - state media |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-yin-yong-named-acting-beijing-mayor-state-media-2022-10-28/ |access-date=2022-10-28 |work=Reuters |language=en}} Chen became a deputy to the 12th National People's Congress in March 2018.{{cite news|script-title=zh:全国人大代表信息-陈吉宁|url=http://www.npc.gov.cn/delegate/viewDelegate.action?dbid=2008120037|language=zh|access-date=2013-03-06|publisher=National People's Congress|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103125122/http://www.npc.gov.cn/delegate/viewDelegate.action?dbid=2008120037|archive-date=2014-01-03|url-status=dead}}

In February 2020, amidst the growing COVID-19 pandemic, Chen visited several companies in Zhongguancun to check on their operations.{{Cite news |last=Liu |first=Zhen |date=10 February 2020 |title=Chinese cities keen to get back to work but coronavirus concerns grow as workers return |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3049740/chinese-cities-keen-get-back-work-coronavirus-concerns-grow |access-date=19 December 2024 |work=South China Morning Post}} He was awarded the Silver Olympic Order after the 2022 Winter Olympics.{{cite web |title=IOC thanks Beijing 2022 for memorable Olympic Winter Games |url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-thanks-beijing-2022-for-memorable-olympic-winter-games |website=International Olympic Committee |date=2022-02-21 |access-date=2022-02-21}}

= Shanghai city government =

Chen became a member of the Politburo after the 20th Party Congress and was appointed Party Secretary of Shanghai, succeeding Li Qiang who became a standing member.{{Cite news |date=28 October 2022 |title=China Names Beijing Mayor Chen Jining As Shanghai Party Boss |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-28/china-names-beijing-mayor-chen-jining-new-party-boss-of-shanghai |access-date=25 September 2024 |work=Bloomberg News}} As party secretary, Chen has visited the CCP's historical sites and repeatedly mentioned Xi Jinping's political theories.{{Cite web |title=上海市委书记陈吉宁瞻仰中共一大会址 |url=https://www.guancha.cn/ChengShi/2022_10_29_664346.shtml |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=www.guancha.cn |archive-date=2022-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116110438/https://www.guancha.cn/ChengShi/2022_10_29_664346.shtml |url-status=live }}

In April 2023, Chen met with former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou.{{Cite news |last=Chung |first=Lawrence |date=5 April 2023 |title=Former Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou in Shanghai as PLA Navy launches strait patrols |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3216097/former-taiwanese-leader-ma-ying-jeou-shanghai-pla-navy-launches-strait-patrols |access-date=19 December 2024 |work=South China Morning Post}} In May 2023, after instructions by Xi, Chen convened a meeting to call for an "upgraded version" of the waste disposal scheme first implemented in 2019.{{Cite news |last=Cai |first=Vanessa |date=20 June 2023 |title=How China's leader Xi Jinping is resetting his agenda with a greater focus on 'bread and butter' policies |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3224581/how-chinas-leader-xi-jinping-resetting-his-agenda-greater-focus-bread-and-butter-policies |access-date=19 December 2024 |work=South China Morning Post}} In the same month, he met with JPMorgan Chase chief executive Jamie Dimon. In June 2023, Chen met with Tesla, Inc. CEO Elon Musk, where he encouraged Musk to increase investment in China.{{Cite news |date=2023-06-01 |title=Musk Asked to Boost Investment in Shanghai by Top Party Official |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-01/musk-asked-to-boost-investment-in-shanghai-by-top-party-official |access-date=2024-12-19 |work=Bloomberg News |language=en}} In July 2023, Chen convened a meeting of the Shanghai Municipal Committee to relay a decision made by the CCP leadership on Beijing to put Dong Yunhu, director of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress Standing Committee, under investigation.{{Cite news |last=Zhuang |first=Sylvie |date=13 July 2023 |title=Shanghai legislation chief Dong Yunhu purged in China corruption investigation |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3227516/shanghai-legislation-chief-dong-yunhu-purged-china-corruption-investigation |access-date=19 December 2024 |work=South China Morning Post}}

He met with US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in August 2023.{{Cite news |last=Shepardson |first=David |date=August 30, 2023 |title=US Commerce chief leaves China on upbeat note after 'uninvestible' remark |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/china-response-uss-raimondo-says-it-is-easing-market-access-foreign-firms-2023-08-30/ |access-date=September 3, 2023 |work=Reuters |language=en-US}} He met with US Senators led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in October 2023, where he called for "healthy and stable" China–US relations.{{Cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Amber |last2=Han |first2=Bochen |date=9 October 2023 |title=US senators defy backlash at home to test China's engagement first-hand |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3237169/us-senators-defy-backlash-home-test-chinas-engagement-first-hand |access-date=19 December 2024 |work=South China Morning Post}} In 2024, Chen was in the forefront of efforts to reassure foreign investors amid concerns about the economy.{{Cite news |last=Ren |first=Daniel |date=24 October 2024 |title=Shanghai's economy, under pressure from weak property and stock markets at home, banks on external demand drivers in 2024 |url=https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3238919/shanghais-economy-under-pressure-weak-property-and-stock-markets-home-banks-external-demand-drivers |access-date=19 December 2024 |work=South China Morning Post}} In November 2024, he met with Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, where both sides pledged to increase ties.{{Cite news |last1=Wu |first1=Willa |last2=Ren |first2=Daniel |date=6 November 2024 |title=Hong Kong's John Lee confident over Shanghai ties, says focus on economy not politics |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3285465/hong-kongs-john-lee-confident-over-shanghai-ties-says-focus-economy-not-politics |access-date=19 December 2024 |work=South China Morning Post}}