| Editor's note: Liu Yandong was announced as the vice premier of China's State Council at the sixth plenary meeting of the First Session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing on March 16, 2013. Liu is the fourth female vice premier after Wu Guixian, Chen Muhua, and Wu Yi since the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1, 1949. 
| Liu Yandong is member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee; vice premier; member of the Leading Party Members' Group of the State Council. Born in November 1945, Liu is an ethnic Han from Nantong, Jiangsu Province. She entered the workforce in March 1970 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in July 1964. She studied political theory at the School of Administration at Jilin University, has an in-service postgraduate education and holds the degree of Doctor of Laws. [Xinhua photo] |
![Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong (L), a special envoy of President Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with South Korea's first female president Park Geun-hye in Seoul, South Korea on Feb. 25, 2013. Liu also attended Park's inauguration ceremony in Seoul. [Xinhua photo]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20130321/001fd04cf03a12b4f4a903.jpg "Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong (L), a special envoy of President Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with South Korea's first female president Park Geun-hye in Seoul, South Korea on Feb. 25, 2013. Liu also attended Park's inauguration ceremony in Seoul. [Xinhua photo]")
| | Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong (L), a special envoy of President Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with South Korea's first female president Park Geun-hye in Seoul, South Korea on Feb. 25, 2013. Liu also attended Park's inauguration ceremony in Seoul. [Xinhua photo] |
![Visiting Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong (L) and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard attends a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of China-Australia ties in Canberra on Dec. 12, 2012. [Xinhua photo]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20130321/001fd04cf03a12b4f4bc04.jpg "Visiting Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong (L) and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard attends a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of China-Australia ties in Canberra on Dec. 12, 2012. [Xinhua photo]")
| | Visiting Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong (L) and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard attends a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of China-Australia ties in Canberra on Dec. 12, 2012. [Xinhua photo] |
![New Zealand Prime Minister John Key (R) meets with the visiting Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong in Auckland, New Zealand, on Dec. 9, 2012. [Xinhua photo]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20130321/001fd04cf03a12b4f4ce05.jpg "New Zealand Prime Minister John Key (R) meets with the visiting Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong in Auckland, New Zealand, on Dec. 9, 2012. [Xinhua photo]")
| | New Zealand Prime Minister John Key (R) meets with the visiting Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong in Auckland, New Zealand, on Dec. 9, 2012. [Xinhua photo] |
| | Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong (L, front) meets with a delegation made up of Ukrainian teenagers who had been affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, in Beijing on Aug. 3, 2012. The delegation, consisting of about 200 teenagers and accompanying adults, was on a seven-day trip to China for rehabilitation and recreation at the invitation of President Hu Jintao. [Xinhua photo] |
| | Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong takes part in a long distance run in Beijing on June 10, 2012. The long distance run was held to mark the 60th anniversary of the release of late Chairman Mao Zedong's inscription on promoting physical culture and building up people's health. [Xinhua photo] |
| | Wu Yi served as China's third female vice premier from March 2003 to March 2008. Wu was born in November 1938 in Wuhan, Hubei Province. She joined the Party in April 1962 and began her career in August 1962. She graduated from China University of Petroleum, majoring in petroleum refinery engineering, and is now a senior engineer. |
| | Wu Yi earned the title of "Iron Lady" for her intelligence, insight and toughness. She was experienced and adept in international negotiations. In this picture, Wu attends a social function. |
| | Wu Yi, former member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, attends the opening ceremony of the 11th China International Investment and Trade Fair in Xiamen of Fujian Province on Sept. 8, 2007. |
| | In the picture, Wu Yi meets with former U.S. President George W. Bush. |
| | Wu Yi retired from all her official positions in 2008 at the age of 69. In this picture, Wu delivers a speech at a social activity. |
| | Chen Muhua served as China's second female vice premier from March 1978 to May 1982. Chen was born on June 21, 1921 in Qingtian, Zhejiang Province. |
| | Chen Muhua joined the Party in June 1938. From 1971 to 1988, she served as vice minister of the Ministry of Foreign Economic Liaison, vice secretary of its leading Party group, its Minister, secretary of its leading Party group, and vice premier of the State Council. In this picture, Chen inspects the work in Sichuan Province when she held the post of vice premier. |
| | Chen Muhua was in charge of Chinese economic work. As governor of the People's Bank of China, Chen helped establish the bank's central role, and set new goals for financial reform. In this picture, Chen participates in a tree-planting activity when she held the post of honorary chairwoman of Beijing Forestation Foundation. |
| | Chen Muhua died in Beijing on May 12, 2011 at the age of 90.,and President Hu Jintao expressed sympathy to Chen's relatives. |
|
