Xu Guanhua

In this Chinese name, the family name is Xu.

Xu Guanhua (Chinese: 徐冠华; born 16 December 1942) is a Chinese scientist and politician who served as Minister of Science and Technology from 2001 to 2007.^[1] He also served as chairperson of the Education, Science, Health and Sports Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference from 2008 to 2013. He was a member of the 16th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.^[2] He was a member of the Standing Committee of the 11th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.^[3]

Xu Guanhua
徐冠华
Xu in August 2016
Chairperson of the Education, Science, Health and Sports Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
In office March 2008 – March 2013
Preceded by	Liu Zhongde
Succeeded by	Zhang Yutai
Minister of Science and Technology
In office 28 February 2001 – 27 April 2007
Premier	Zhu Rongji Wen Jiabao
Preceded by	Zhu Lilan
Succeeded by	Wan Gang
Personal details
Born	(1941-12-16) 16 December 1941 (age 83) Shanghai, China
Political party	Chinese Communist Party
Spouse	Yu Dongjie
Children	2
Alma mater	Beijing Forestry University Stockholm University
Scientific career
Fields	Remote sensing application
Institutions	Chinese Academy of Forestry (1963–1971) Chang'an University (1971–1979) Chinese Academy of Sciences (1993–1998)
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	徐冠华
Traditional Chinese	徐冠華
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xú Guànhuá

Biography

Xu was born in Shanghai, on 16 December 1942.^[4] After graduating from Beijing Forestry University in 1963, he was assigned to the Chinese Academy of Forestry [zh], where he successively served as research intern, teacher, assistant researcher, researcher, and director of its Resource Information Institute.^[4] In 1971, he joined the faculty of Chang'an University, and worked there until 1979.^[4]

After the Reform and Opening Up in 1979, he was sent to study at Stockholm University on government scholarships,^[5] and returned to China in 1981. He joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in September 1984. He was appointed director of the Institute of Remote Sensing Applications, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in February 1993, and was elevated to vice president in August 1994.^[5]

Xu got involved in politics in 1995, when he was chosen as deputy director of the National Technical Committee.^[5] After the institutional reform, he served as the vice minister of science and technology in 1998.^[5] He moved up the ranks to become minister on 28 February 2001.^[5] In March 2008, he took office as chairperson of the Education, Science, Health and Sports Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, serving in the post until his retirement in March 2013.^[5]

Personal life

Xu married Yu Dongjie (裕东洁), the couple have a son and a daughter.^[4]

Honors and awards

• October 2003 Foreign Fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences^[6]