Wu Xian (politician)

Wu Xian (; June 28, 1915 – July 1995) was a Chinese politician who served as Mayor of Hangzhou on two occasions between 1951 and 1962. He also held senior positions in Zhejiang, including deputy governor of the province, secretary of the Secretariat of the Chinese Communist Party Zhejiang Provincial Committee, and vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Zhejiang Provincial Committee. He was a delegate to the 8th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party and served as a deputy to the first three National People's Congresses.

Biography

Wu was born in Wuqiao County, Zhili (now Hebei), on June 28, 1915. While attending middle school, he came under the influence of progressive political thought and became active in the student movement in Tianjin. He participated in and helped organize anti-Japanese demonstrations, including the December 9th Movement in 1935. He joined the National Liberation Vanguard Corps the following year.

In 1938, Wu joined the New Fourth Army and became a member of the Chinese Communist Party. During the Second Sino-Japanese War and the subsequent Chinese Civil War, he served in a number of political and organizational positions, including deputy director of the enemy affairs department of the New Fourth Army's Fourth Division, deputy director of the urban work department of the CCP Central China Bureau, director of the liaison department of the political department of the East China Field Army, deputy secretary of the Party committee of the 35th Army, and director of its political department. He participated in several major military campaigns, including the Menglianggu campaign, the Jinan campaign, and the Huaihai campaign.

Following the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, Wu was appointed secretary-general of the Chinese Communist Party Zhejiang Provincial Committee after the liberation of Hangzhou in May 1949. He subsequently served as vice mayor, mayor, and Communist Party secretary of Hangzhou. Between July 1951 and January 1955, and again from July 1955 to September 1962, he served two terms as Mayor of Hangzhou. During this period, he also held concurrent positions including Party secretary of Hangzhou.

Beginning in 1958, Wu served as vice governor of Zhejiang while concurrently holding leading positions in Hangzhou, including First Secretary of the CCP Hangzhou Municipal Committee and mayor. He later became secretary of the Secretariat of the CCP Zhejiang Provincial Committee. In December 1977, he was appointed vice chairman of the Fourth Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a position he held until his retirement.

Wu was elected as a delegate to the 8th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. He also served as a deputy to the 1st National People's Congress, 2nd National People's Congress, and 3rd National People's Congress. Wu died in Hangzhou in July 1995 at the age of 80.

Personal life

Wu's son, Wu Shengli, served as commander of the People's Liberation Army Navy and attained the rank of admiral.