Ling Jihua

Ling Jihua (Chinese: 令计划; October, 1956 - ) is a politician of the People's Republic of China. He currently serves as a secretary of the central secretariat of the Communist Party of China, and the director of general office of Central Committee of CPC.

Ling was born into a CPC official's family in Pinglu County, Shanxi Province, as Linghu Jihua (令狐计划). He has three brothers. In December 1973, as many other young Chinese, he was sent to work in the countryside, and used to serve in a printing factory. In June, 1975, Ling was admitted into the Communist Youth League committee in Pinglu County, and was soon elevated to vice secretary of the committee. He joined the Communist Party of China in June, 1976. In December, 1978, Ling was transferred to CPC Yuncheng committee in Shanxi. In 1979, Communist Youth League elected young cadres nationwide, and Ling, at the age of 23, was elevated to the propaganda department of CYL Central Committee. He obtained a on-job master's degree in commercial management at Hunan University.

From August, 1983, Ling studied at China Youth Political Academy, affiliated to CYL, majoring in political education. In July, 1985, Ling was promoted to the deputy chief of theory section of propaganda department of CYL. At that time, Hu Jintao was the head of CYL. From June, 1988, Ling served in various posts in CYL, including office director of central secretariat, vice director of general office of CYL Central Committee, editor-in-chief of "Chinese Communist Youth League", and the director of propaganda department of CYL.

In December, 1995, after serving in CYL for over ten years, Ling was transferred to general office of CPC Central Committee, and became the head of 3rd group of research office. In June, 1998, he was promoted to head of research office, under the general office. In December, 1999, Ling was appointed as vice director of general office of CPC. Later, he also served as vice minister of general office of the State Commission for Public Sector Reform of the State Council, and director of Hu Jintao's office.

On September 19, 2007, Ling succeeded Wang Gang as the director of General Office of CPC Central Committee.

Ling was an alternate member of 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and is a current member of 17th Central Committee of CPC.