Sheng Guangzu Explained

Sheng Guangzu
Office:Genenal Manager of China Railway Corporation
Term Start:14 March 2013
Term End:9 October 2016
Successor:Lu Dongfu
Office1:Minister of Railways
Premier1:Wen Jiabao
Term Start1:25 February 2011
Term End1:14 March 2013
Predecessor1:Liu Zhijun
Successor1:post abolished
Birth Date:1949 4, df=yes
Birth Place:Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Party:Chinese Communist Party (expelled)
Alma Mater:Tongji University

Sheng Guangzu (; born 5 April 1949) was the last Chinese Minister of Railways, before the position was abolished in March 2013, and the first Genenal Manager of China Railway Corporation. He was formerly the head of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China. He initially held several lower positions in the Ministry of Railways, and moved up the ranks starting in 2000.[1] Sheng was also a member of the 17th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.

Early life and education

Born in April 1949 in Nanjing, Jiangsu, he is a member of China's majority Han ethnic group and holds a bachelor's degree.[1]

Career

While deputy governor of the Ministry of China Railway Communication, he supported the creation of China Netcom to compete with China Telecom.[2] He became a board member of China Netcom and the Ministry of Railways was given a quarter interest in the company.[2]

Sheng replaced his predecessor Liu Zhijun who was dismissed for corruption.[3] [4] During his tenure, the Wenzhou train collision occurred on July 23, 2011, killing 40, and injuring 192 (12 severely).[5]

Sheng retired in October 2016. He was replaced by Lu Dongfu, as the first director of the National Railways Administration (NRA).[6] In November 2016, he was appointed as Vice-Chairperson of the National People's Congress Financial and Economic Affairs Committee.[7]

Downfall

On 25 March 2022, he was placed under investigation for "serious violations of discipline and laws" by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the party's internal disciplinary body, and the National Supervisory Commission, the highest anti-corruption agency of China.[8] On September 19, he was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party.[9] He was arrested by the Supreme People's Procuratorate on October 8.[10]

In 2023 he was jailed for corruption.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Leadership Resume . 2008-05-17 . 2008-04-01 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20080422004215/http://www.customs.gov.cn/YWStaticPage/7021/eafa9b41.htm . 2008-04-22.
  2. News: Sheff. David. Betting on Bandwidth. 2 March 2011. WIRED.
  3. News: Wong. Edward. China’s Railway Minister Loses Post in Corruption Inquiry . 16 February 2011. The New York Times. 12 February 2011.
  4. News: China railways minister dismissed -Xinhua. 26 February 2011. The Los Angeles Times. 25 February 2011. Sui-Lee Wee. Huang Yan. Miral Fahmy. Reuters.
  5. Web site: 忆"七二三"动车事故:当时高铁中国梦达顶峰. 2014-12-30. 2013-07-24. NetEase. zh. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141018090806/http://zhenhua.163.com/13/0724/09/94HPPVK1000464P3.html. 2014-10-18.
  6. Web site: money.163.com . 陆东福任中铁总总经理 盛光祖退休 . 163.com . 2016-09-10 . 2016-09-10.
  7. News: 盛光祖任全国人大财经委副主任委员 . 2016-11-07 . Xinhua.
  8. News: Former general manager of China's state railway operator cooperates with probe . 25 March 2022 . xinhuanet.com . 25 March 2022.
  9. News: Former head of China's state railway operator expelled from CPC . 21 September 2022 . Chinadaily.com . 19 September 2022.
  10. News: Cheng Qin (Chinese: 程琴) . https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2022-10-08/doc-imqmmthc0138933.shtml . zh:最高人民检察院依法对盛光祖决定逮捕 . sina . 8 October 2022 . 9 October 2022 . zh.
  11. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3244913/chinas-former-railway-head-sentenced-15-years-prison-corruption