Yuan Jiajun

Life and career

Yuan was born in Tonghua, Jilin Province. In September 1980, Yuan graduated from Beijing Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, majoring in aircraft design and applied mechanics. In July 1984 he joined the Ministry of Aerospace Industry. After graduation, he worked as a graduate research student. He studied abroad at the German Aerospace Center, returning to China in August 1990 to work for the "501 office". He ascended the ranks of the ministry steadily, taking on increasingly senior administrative roles. In April 2000, he was named commander of the Shenzhou manned spaceflight program. Thereafter he gained a doctorate from his alma mater, now renamed Beihang University.

Yuan became vice-president of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation in November 2007, and became involved in the Lunar Mission and the join Chinese-Russian mission to explore Mars. He became involved in politics in 2012, joining the party standing committee in Ningxia, and becoming vice-chairman of Ningxia in 2013, and overseeing the operations of the Ningdong Energy and Chemical Operations Industry Base (宁东能源化工基地). In August 2014, Yuan was named a party standing committee member of the prosperous coastal Zhejiang province, then assumed the post of executive vice governor.

In November 2016, Yuan was named deputy party chief of Zhejiang and head of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of Zhejiang. In April 2017, Yuan was appointed as acting governor of Zhejiang; he was confirmed on July 7.

Yuan has received numerous awards for his work in the Chinese Space Program.

Yuan was an alternate member of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.