[sources / revisions]
Compiled from the following sources:

Special biographic research
Wen Wei Publishing Company, Ltd. 2002-2006

Who's Who, Current Chinese Leaders
Wen Wei Publishing Company, Ltd. 2003-2005

Zhongguo Gongchandang Lijie Zhongyang Weiyuan Dacidian, 1921-2003
Beijing: Zhonggong dangshi chubanshe 2004

XINHUA Online (China View)


Revision History:

Biography Revised: 3/17/2010
Career Data Updated: 3/17/2010

PHOTO: Chen Bingde
Chen Bingde 陈炳德
Member of the 17th CPC Central Committee, Member of the 17th CPC Central Military Commission; Member of the Central Military Commission of the PRC, Chief of General Staff
Born: 1941
Birthplace: Jiangsu Province, Nantong City

Biography

Chen Bingde, male, Han nationality, is a native of Nantong, Jiangsu Province. He was born in 1941 and holds the equivalent of a an associate the degree from the Academy of Military Sciences. Chen joined the PLA in 1961 and the CPC in 1962.

He joined the Nanjing Military Region as chief of staff in 1985 and was promoted to major general in 1988.

A year after he received his lieutenant general stars in 1995, Chen became the commander-in-chief of the Nanjing Military Region in 1996. He was a member of the 16th CPC Central Committee and became a member of the CPC Central Military Commission and Director-General of the PLA General Armaments Department in 2004.

In 2007, he became chief of the PLA Headquarters of the General Staff, a member of the 17th CPC Central Committee and a member of the 17th CPC Central Military Commission.

Career Data

2007— Chief, PLA, Headquarters of the General Staff
2007— Member, 17th CPC, Central Committee, Central Military Commission
2007— Member, 17th CPC, Central Committee
2005— Member, Central Military Commission of the PRC
2004—2007 Secretary, PLA, General Armaments Department CPC, Party Committee
2004—2007 Director-General, PLA, General Armaments Department
2004—2007 Member, 16th CPC, Central Committee, Central Military Commission
2002— General, PLA
2002—2007 Member, 16th CPC, Central Committee
1999—2004 Secretary, PLA, Regions, Jinan Military Region CPC, Party Committee Shandong Province, Jinan City
1999—2004 Commander-in-Chief, PLA, Regions, Jinan Military Region
1997—2002 Member, 15th CPC, Central Committee
1996—1999 Commander-in-Chief, PLA, Regions, Nanjing Military Region
1996—1999 Deputy Secretary, PLA, Regions, Nanjing Military Region CPC, Party Committee
1995—2002 Lieutenant General, PLA
1993—1996 Member, PLA, Regions, Nanjing Military Region CPC, Party Committee, Standing Committee Jiangsu Province, Nanjing City
1993—1993 Commander, PLA, Services and Arms, Group Army
1993—1996 Chief of Staff, PLA, Regions, Nanjing Military Region Jiangsu Province, Nanjing City
1988—1995 Major General, PLA
1985—1985 Student, Military Academy of the Chinese PLA
1983—1985 Deputy Commander, PLA, Services and Arms, Army (or Ground Force)
1982—1983 Commander, PLA, Services and Arms, Infantry, Division
1979—1982 Chief of Staff, PLA, Services and Arms, Infantry, Division
1979—1981 Student, PLA Academy of Military Sciences
1977—1979 Commander, PLA, Services and Arms, Infantry, Regiment
1964—1965 Platoon Leader, PLA
1962 Joined, CPC
1961—1964 Sergeant, PLA
1961 Joined, PLA

Recent Travel & Appearances

16 Apr 12 Was in Beijing Municipality and met with the following:
• Ba Ty Do (Chief of the General Staff of Vietnamese Army)
China, Vietnam vow to improve military ties
13 Apr 12 Was in Beijing Municipality and met with the following:
• Ba Ty Do (Vietnamese Army Chief )
Chinese VP meets Vietnamese army chief
13 Apr 12 Was in Beijing Municipality and met with the following:
• Makhmutov (Chief of the General Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Uzbekistan Armed Forces)
Chen Bingde holds talks with Uzbekistan chief of general staff
29 Mar 12 China, Russia to conduct joint navy drill
19 Mar 12 Was in Beijing Municipality and met with the following:
• Sverker Goranson (Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces )
China hopes to deepen military ties with Sweden
14 Mar 12 Was in Beijing Municipality and met with the following:
• Werner Freers (German Inspector of the Army)
China, Germany to promote military ties
07 Mar 12 Was in Beijing Municipality and met with the following:
• Walter Natynczyk (Chief of Defense Staff of the Canadian Forces)
China enhancing military cooperation with Canada, France
06 Mar 12 Uniformed NPC deputies address Party leadership, modernization of China's armed forces
23 Feb 12 Was in Beijing Municipality and met with the following:
• Thura Shwe Mann (Speaker of the House of Representatives of Myanmar)
Chen Bingde meets with Myanmar guests
20 Feb 12 Scholar disputes Jane's report on Chinese military


The most recent (of 117) travel & appearance entries are listed here.