BEIJING, March 18 -- Following is a biographical sketch of Wu Bangguo, who was nominated vice-premier of the State Council, China's highest governing body, by Premier Zhu Rongji and approved by the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC) at its first session today.

A native of Feidong, in east China's Anhui Province, Wu was born July, 1941; and joined the Communist Party, April, 1964.

Studied at Radio Electronics Department, Qinghua University, 1960-1967; worked in Shanghai No. 3 Electronic Tube Factory as engineer, technical division chief, deputy Party secretary, deputy director and director, 1967-1976; deputy Party secretary and deputy director of Shanghai No.3 Electronic Tube Factory, 1976-1978; deputy manager of Shanghai Electronics Instruments Industrial Company, 1978-1981, and deputy Party secretary of Shanghai Meters, Instruments and Telecommunications Bureau, 1981-1983.

In 1983, Wu entered Shanghai's decision-making organ as Standing Committee member of CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, serving concurrently as Party secretary in charge of the municipality's work on science and technology; In 1985, promoted Shanghai's deputy secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee, 1985-1991; Party secretary of Shanghai Municipal Committee, 1991-1992; and elected member of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee in 1992.

In 1994, Wu was transferred to Beijing to become member of the Political Bureau and member of Secretariat of CPC Central Committee; In 1995, he was nominated and confirmed as vice-premier of the State Council while remaining in his Party posts in the CPC Central Committee.

Wu was alternate member of 12th and 13th CPC Central Committees#,and also member of 14th and 15th CPC Central Committee; member of Political Bureau of 14 CPC Central Committee; added to the membership of the Secretariat of CPC Central Committee at the 4th plenum of the 14th CPC Central Committee, and elected member of the Political Bureau of 15th CPC Central Committee.