China's Former Vice Premier Liu Yandong Dies At 80, One Of Few Women To Join Politburo

China's former Vice Premier Liu Yandong, one of the few women to serve on the ruling Communist Party's elite Politburo, died in Beijing on Wednesday, October 28, at the age of 80, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. She held senior party and government posts during a career spanning several decades, including serving as vice premier from 2013 to 2018.

Liu was among a small number of women to become full members of the Politburo, the Communist Party's top decision-making body. Her rise was notable in a political system where senior leadership positions have largely been held by men. China's current Politburo has 21 members, all of them men, according to reports.

Born in November 1945, Liu studied engineering chemistry at Tsinghua University from 1964 to 1970 before starting her career in industrial work. She later moved into local administration and the Communist Youth League, where she held senior positions during the 1980s.

In 1991, Liu joined the United Front Work Department, a key Communist Party body that builds ties with groups outside the party. She later served as its deputy head before becoming its head in 2002, a position she held until 2007.

Liu joined the Politburo in 2007 and became a state councillor in 2008. In 2013, she was appointed vice premier, serving under Premier Li Keqiang until 2018. She was the fourth woman to hold the vice-premier post.

As vice premier, Liu oversaw areas including education, science and technology, healthcare, and culture. She also worked on issues concerning women and children and served as vice-chairperson of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a major political advisory body.

Liu was also involved in the organisation of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which brought athletes and visitors from around the world to the Chinese capital.

An official statement following her death described her as an experienced Communist Party member who made important contributions to party affairs and the country's education, science, healthcare and social sectors. Xinhua reported that she died due to illness.