Cong Liang
A “dark horse” without regional leadership experience who still deserves mentioning as he is the former deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, which sets China’s economic policy. An alternate member of the 20th Central Committee.
Deputy Director of the Developmental Research Center of the State Council (2024 - Present); Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission (2023 -2024); Director of the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration (2022 - 2023); Secretary-General of the National Development and Reform Commission (2018 - 2020)
Titles Held
Born in 1971 in Shandong. Attended Tsinghua University and majored in Mechanical Engineering before obtaining a master’s in economics from the Central University of Finance and Economics and finally a PhD in economics from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Worked at the predecessor to the NDRC as an economist, where he remained for decades until he rose to become Deputy Director. In 2022, he was unexpectedly transferred to lead the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration; this was more so due to the corruption scandal of the former Director, Zhang Wufeng. After a suitable long-term replacement was found, he was transferred to the Development Research Center of the State Council, which is more focused on research and long-term planning.
Biography
Cong’s superior at the Development Research Center, Lu Hao, was another “rising star” who served as Minister of Natural Resources, First Secretary of the Communist Youth League, and Governor of Heilongjiang after being elevated as the youngest full member of the 18th Central Committee. He Lifeng, a Politburo member, former Chairman of the NDRC, and current Vice Premier of China, is another comparable leader, as is Liu He, who like Cong was a former Deputy Director of the NDRC. Cong can also be compared to Li Keqiang, who had a PhD in Economics.