Zhang Xinsheng

Zhang Xinsheng (Chinese: 章新胜), is a Chinese politician. He is the current Vice-minister of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, and the Vice-president of the Chinese Olympic Committee.

Biography

Zhang was born in Shuyang County, Suqian, Jiangsu Province in November, 1948.

1974-1977, Zhang studied English and literature at the Department of Foreign Languages of Hangzhou University (previous and current Zhejiang University). 1977-1979, he served as an official and translator (English-Chinese) in the Foreign Affairs Office of the Jiangsu Provincial Government.

1980-1982, Zhang studied at the University of Colorado in the United States as a graduate student. 1982-1985, he was the Deputy Director of the Tourism Bureau of the Jiangsu Provincial Government. 1986-1989, he was the Deputy Director of the National Tourism Administration, PRC.

1989-1997, he served as the Mayor of Suzhou City. 1998-2000, he was a graduate student at the Harvard University USA, and received a master's degree (major in city planning). 2001–present, he is the Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Education, PRC. 2004–present, he is the Vice-President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, Beijing.

On 24 Oct 2005, Zhang became the Chairman of UNESCO’s Executive Board. In 2007, Zhang was re-elected as the Vice-president of FISU (International University Sports Federation). In 2012, he was elected President of IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature.