Zhou Yongkang, a native of Wuxi in Jiangsu province, was born in 1942 and joined the Communist Party of China in 1964.He graduated from the Beijing Petroleum Institute, majoring in geophysical exploration.

Career path

1967-70: Intern and technician on the geological survey team at No 673 Factory, Daqing Oilfield.

1970-73: Technician, Party branch secretary and brigade leader of the regional office of the Geological Survey Regiment, Liaohe Oil Exploration Campaign Headquarters.

1976-79: Deputy director of the Liaohe Oil Exploration Bureau Political Department.

1983-85: Director and deputy Party secretary of LOEB, and deputy Party secretary and mayor of Panjin in Liaoning province.

1985-88: Vice-minister of petroleum industry.

1988-96: Deputy general manager of China National Petroleum and Natural Gas Corp.

1996-98: General manager of China National Petroleum and Natural Gas Corp.

1998-99: Minister of land and resources.

1999-2002: Party chief of Sichuan.

2002-03: Member of the Political Bureau and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, deputy chief of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee of the CPC Central Committee and minister of public security.

2003-07: Member of the Political Bureau and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, state councilor, deputy chief of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee of the CPC Central Committee and minister of public security.

2007-13: Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau (to November 2012), state councilor (to March 2008), deputy chief of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee of the CPC Central Committee (to November 2012) and minister of public security.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 08/01/2014 page4)