Cheng Siyuan, Vice-Chairman of NPC Standing Committee

Following is a biographical sketch of Cheng Siyuan:

Born in 1908, a native of Binyang, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region; with no party affiliation; postgraduate from Rome University, Italy, Ph.D in political science.

From 1930 to 1934, worked as political secretary to Li Zongren,commander-in-chief of Kuomintang (KMT)'s Fourth Group Army, who was later to become acting president of Republic of China.

From 1934, served as secretary to Bai Chongxi, then deputy chief of staff of KMT National Military Council, chief of Service Section and director of Central Committee of Three People's Principles Youth League, director of Political Department of Guangxi Pacification Headquarters, member of Standing Committee of KMT Sixth Central Executive Committee, member of KMT Legislative Committee and deputy secretary general of Wartime Committee of KMT Central Committee.

Lived and worked as a columnist for a local newspaper in Hong Kong, 1949-1965; accompanied Li Zongren to return and settle down in Beijing in 1965.

From 1978-83, was member and deputy secretary general of Standing Committee of National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), member of Standing Committee of National People's Congress (NPC), and vice-chairman of NPC Foreign Affairs Committee; from 1983-88, member of Standing Committee and deputy secretary-general of CPPCC National Committee; after 1993, was vice-chairman of Eighth NPC Standing Committee.