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

China Gate


XINHUA Online (China View)


Revision History:

Biography Revised: 10/6/2010
Career Data Updated: 10/6/2010

PHOTO: Liang Guanglie
Liang Guanglie 梁光烈
Member, 17th CPC, Central Committee; Member, Central Military Commission of the PRC; State Councilor, State Council; Minister, Ministry of National Defense
Born: 1940

Biography

Liang Guanglie, male, Han nationality, is a native of Santai County, Sichuan Province. He was born in 1940, graduated from Henan University. Liang joined PLA in 1958 and joined the CPC in 1959.

Liang spent most of the 1970s with the Wuhan Military Area Command, serving as deputy section chief and deputy director of the combat department.

In 1982, he returned to school as a student at the Military College. The following year, he became deputy commander of the PLA's Army Corps. After studying at the National Defense University, Liang was promoted to major general in 1988.

An alternate member of the both the 13th and 14th CPC Central Committees, Liang was chief of staff at the Beijing Military Region and a standing member of the command's Party Committee. He then became the deputy commander-in-chief of the command region before leaving for the Shenyang Military Region in 1995. The same year, he was promoted to lieutenant general.

Liang was promoted as General in 2002. From 2002 to 2007, he served as chief of the general staff at the PLA. He is currently a member of the 17th CPC Central Committee, a member of the 17th CPC Central Military Commission, a member of the Central Military Commission of PRC, State Councilor of the State Council and Minister of the Ministry of National Defense.

Career Data

2008— State Councilor, State Council
2008— Minister, Ministry of National Defense
2007— Member, 17th CPC, Central Committee, Central Military Commission
2007— Member, 17th CPC, Central Committee
2003— Member, Central Military Commission of the PRC
2002—2007 Secretary, PLA, Headquarters of the General Staff CPC, Party Committee
2002— General, PLA
2002—2007 Chief, PLA, Headquarters of the General Staff
2002—2007 Member, 16th CPC, Central Committee, Central Military Commission
2002—2007 Member, 16th CPC, Central Committee
1999—2002 Commander, PLA, Regions, Nanjing Military Region
1997—2002 Member, 15th CPC, Central Committee
1997—1999 Commander, PLA, Regions, Shenyang Military Region
1995—1997 Deputy Commander, PLA, Regions, Beijing Military Region Beijing Municipality
1995—2002 Lieutenant General, PLA
1993—1995 Chief of Staff, PLA, Regions, Beijing Military Region Beijing Municipality
1990—1993 Commander, PLA, Services and Arms, 54th Group Army
1988—1995 Major General, PLA
1987—1992 Alternate Member, 14th CPC, Central Committee
1985—1990 Commander, PLA, Services and Arms, 20th Group Army
1984—1986 Student, Henan University Henan Province, Kaifeng City
1983—1985 Deputy Commander, PLA, Services and Arms, 20th Group Army
1982—1987 Alternate Member, 13th CPC, Central Committee
1981—1983 Division Commander, PLA, Services and Arms, 20th Group Army, Division Command
1970—1979 Deputy Director, PLA, Services and Arms, Army (or Ground Force), Headquarters
1964—1970 Campaign Staff Member, PLA, Services and Arms, Army (or Ground Force), Headquarters
1963—1964 Student, Xinyang Infantry School Henan Province
1960—1963 Platoon Commander, PLA, Services and Arms, Army (or Ground Force)
1959 Joined, PLA
1958 Joined, CPC

Recent Travel & Appearances

16 May 12 Travelled to Poland, Warsaw and met with the following:
Tomasz Siemoniak (Polish Defense Minister )
Chinese, Polish DMs vow to enhance military ties
15 May 12 Travelled to Latvia, Riga and met with the following:
Edgars Rinkevics (Latvian Foreign Minister)
Chinese DM, Latvian FM meet on ties
14 May 12 Travelled to Latvia, Riga and met with the following:
Artis Pabriks (Latvian Defense Minister)
China, Latvia pledge to boost military ties
13 May 12 Travelled to Latvia, Riga and met with the following:
Solvita Aboltina (Parliament Speaker of Latvia)
Latvia is China's good friend and partner: Chinese DM
10 May 12 Travelled to USA, New York, West Point
Chinese defense minister visits West Point to boost military ties
10 May 12 Travelled to USA, Washington D.C.
Chinese defense minister visits U.S. Marines base
07 May 12 Travelled to USA, Washington D.C.
Chinese defense minister meets "Flying Tigers" in U.S.
07 May 12 Travelled to USA, Washington D.C. and met with the following:
Leon Panetta (U.S. Secretary of Defense)
China, U.S. defense chiefs reach consensus on developing military ties
07 May 12 Travelled to USA, Washington D.C.
Chinese defense minister hopes to see sound Sino-U.S. military ties
04 May 12 Travelled to USA, California, San Francisco
Chinese defense minister arrives in U.S. for official visit


The most recent (of 305) travel & appearance entries are listed here.