Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SHANGHAI457
2007-07-20 08:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Shanghai
Cable title:  

BIOGRAPHICAL OBSERVATIONS ON ZHAO HONGZHU

Tags:  PGOV PINR CH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7893
RR RUEHCN RUEHVC
DE RUEHGH #0457/01 2010815
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 200815Z JUL 07
FM AMCONSUL SHANGHAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6053
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 6490
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SHANGHAI 000457 

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DEPT FOR EAP/CM, INR/B AND INR/EAP
NSC FOR WILDER AND TONG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/20/2032
TAGS: PGOV PINR CH
SUBJECT: BIOGRAPHICAL OBSERVATIONS ON ZHAO HONGZHU

SHANGHAI 00000457 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Clark Randt, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy, Beijing,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SHANGHAI 000457

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DEPT FOR EAP/CM, INR/B AND INR/EAP
NSC FOR WILDER AND TONG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/20/2032
TAGS: PGOV PINR CH
SUBJECT: BIOGRAPHICAL OBSERVATIONS ON ZHAO HONGZHU

SHANGHAI 00000457 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Clark Randt, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy, Beijing,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador's July 9 call on newly-appointed
Zhejiang Party Secretary Zhao Hongzhu and a subsequent July 13
dinner hosted by Zhao (see Septel) provided post with an
opportunity to collect biographical information on Zhao. Zhao
came across as friendly and was described by subordinates as
approachable. According to Zhao's staff, Zhao had good
relations with senior leaders and an extensive personal
relationship throughout the leadership based on his work in the
party's Organization Department. Despite this, his prospects
for promotion to a higher post were complicated by his age (Zhao
was already 60). End summary.

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Ties and Prospects for Promotion
--------------


2. (C) During a July 13 dinner hosted by Zhao for the
Ambassador, FAO official Yu Siba told Poloff that Zhao had good
connections to top leaders, although Yu was cagey about citing
which ones. Zhao had served in the Central Organization
Department, responsible for arranging all promotions at the vice
governor level and above, since 2000, and as the Department's
number two official since 2003. In that role, Zhao would have
been responsible for recommending persons to the Politburo for
promotion. As part of that process, Zhao would examine the
personnel records of every promotable official and would be
privy to very sensitive information. Yu opined that such a job
would, of necessity, go only to someone who had close ties to
the current leadership. He further speculated that Zhao should
have a large personal relationship network, considering he was
responsible for helping a large number of current leaders get
their jobs.


3. (C) In an aside to the Consul General on July 9, Zhejiang
Foreign Affairs Office Director Ruan Zhongxun observed that
given his age, Zhao would only serve one term as Zhejiang Party
Secretary. Zhao was 60 and would either be required to retire

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at the end of this term, or would need to be promoted to a top

level national post if he wished to work past 65. Yu believed
Zhao's opportunities for advancement were slim. Despite Zhao's
network and the fact that many previous party secretaries had
gone on to Politburo positions after leaving Zhejiang, including
current Guangdong Party Secretary Zheng Dejiang and Shanghai
Party Secretary Xi Jinping (who, Yu said, was assured a
Politburo slot at the upcoming Party Congress),Zhao was older
than these individuals when he came to Zhejiang. Zhao was also
not likely to get a concurrent Politburo slot at the Party
Congress. Party practice was to assign one provincial Politburo
slot per region and East China's slot belonged to Shanghai.

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Friendly and Entertaining
--------------


4. (C) Zhao appeared relaxed and friendly during the meetings,
smiling and laughing throughout. Zhao did not rely on notes or
other officials during his overview of Zhejiang, which contained
quite a number of statistics. He did, however, glance
occasionally at a page of notes when discussing the more arcane
letters and visits system. His delegation treated him with
respect, listening to him and refraining from side discussions.
During the July 13 dinner, FAO official Yu Siba noted to Poloff
that Zhao was very approachable. Unlike many provincial party
secretaries, he also liked to host people. According to Yu,

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traditionally, party secretaries were more aloof towards
visitors, leaving government officials to do the entertaining.

--------------
Heart Problems, Exercise, and Drinking
--------------


5. (C) Zhao said he speed walks every morning for 30 minutes,
walking at roughly two steps per second, and swims every
afternoon that he has free time. He said three years ago, he
had been diagnosed with unspecified heart problems. His doctor
advised him that swimming would be the best exercise for him.
At the time, however, Zhao did not know how to swim. Not
wanting to hire a personal coach, Zhao opted for a "how to swim"
DVD. He watched it intently for two weeks, announced to his
wife that he was ready, and then jumped in the pool. Zhao
claimed to be best at the crawl stroke and worst at the
butterfly stroke.


SHANGHAI 00000457 002.2 OF 002



6. (C) Zhao said he learned to drink sometime between 1983 and

1985. His father, now deceased, was a farmer and was very
strict and had taught Zhao to eschew alcohol. It was not until
after Zhao had graduated from the Central Party School and
transferred to work in Inner Mongolia (Zhao's birthplace) that
he had begun drinking. Zhao, a member of the Han ethnic group,
said that at the time, he called his father after his first
drink and told him that it would seriously offend the local
Mongolians if he refused to drink. Zhao's father thought about
it and said that Zhao was over 30 and mature enough to handle it.

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Beginner's English
--------------


7. (C) Zhao claimed to be able to speak and understand basic
social conversational English. Although he spoke a few phrases
in English, he appeared less confident with his listening
comprehension ability. For instance, when the Ambassador
explained in English that the group had just flown in from Inner
Mongolia, Zhao's home province, prior to the meeting, Zhao gave
no indication that he understood. However, when the interpreter
translated the Ambassador's statement into Chinese, Zhao perked
up and enthusiastically interjected in English "Oh really?"
Zhao studied some English during his time at the Central Party
School because at that time there was a push to have all Chinese
leaders learn at least basic English.

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Personal Data
--------------


8. (C) Zhao is married. His wife recently moved to Hangzhou
from Beijing to be with her husband. Yu contrasted this with
Shanghai Party Secretary Xi Jinping, whose wife, a famous
singer, had refused to move to either Zhejiang or Shanghai with
her husband and currently still resides in Beijing. Zhao has a
daughter, a son-in-law and a 6-and-a-half year old grandson.
Zhao's wife looks after their grandson, allowing the boy's
parents to work. Zhao has two elder brothers and one elder
sister. He traveled to the United States once in 1999 to
represent China at a USG-sponsored anticorruption forum.
SCHUCHAT