BEIJING -- The following is the biographical sketch of Xu Qiliang:

Xu Qiliang, male, Han ethnicity, was born in March 1950 and is from Linqu, Shandong Province. He joined the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in July 1966 and the Communist Party of China (CPC) in July 1967. He graduated from the PLA Air Force's Fifth Aviation School, and has a junior college education.

Xu is currently a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, serves as Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission and the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China (PRC), and holds the rank of general in the PLA Air Force.

2013- Member, CPC Central Committee Political Bureau

Vice Chairman, CPC Central Military Commission

Vice Chairman, PRC Central Military Commission

2012-2013 Member, CPC Central Committee Political Bureau

Vice Chairman, CPC Central Military Commission

Member, PRC Central Military Commission

2008-2012 Member, CPC Central Military Commission

Member, PRC Central Military Commission

Commander-in-Chief, Air Force

2007-2008 Member, CPC Central Military Commission

Commander-in-Chief, Air Force

2007 Commander-in-Chief, Air Force

2004-2007 Deputy Chief of the General Staff, PLA

1999-2004 Deputy Commander and Air Force Commander, Shenyang Military Area Command

Attended a training course for officers at the rank of army commander and above at the University of National Defense (Mar-Jul 2001)

1994-1999 Chief of Staff, Air Force

Studied at Department of National Defense Studies, University of National Defense (Jul-Oct 1998)

Took a continuing studies course in military campaigns at the University of National Defense (Sep-Nov 1994)

1993-1994 Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force

1990-1993 Commander, 8th Army, Air Force

1989-1990 Chief of Staff, 8th Army, Air Force

1988-1989 Acting Commander, 8th Army, Air Force

1986-1988 Student, Basic Department, University of National Defense

1985-1986 Chief of Staff, Shanghai Command Post, Air Force

1984-1985 Deputy Commander, 4th Army, Air Force

1983-1984 Commander, 26th Division, Air Force

1980-1983 Deputy Commander, 26th Division, Air Force

Attended an advanced military course at the Air Force Command Academy (Mar-Oct 1982)

1976-1980 Commander, Independent Brigade, 26th Division, Air Force

1973-1976 Deputy Commander, Independent Brigade, 26th Division, Air Force

1970-1973 Pilot, Independent Brigade, 26th Division, Air Force

1969-1970 Pilot, 77th Regiment, 26th Division, Air Force

1968-1969 Cadet, PLA Air Force's Fifth Aviation School

1967-1968 Cadet, PLA Air Force's Eighth Aviation School

1966-1967 Soldier, 335th Regiment, 112th Division, 38th Army, PLA Ground Force

1966 Cadet, PLA Air Force's First Aviation Reserve School

Alternate member, 14th and 15th CPC Central Committees

Member, 16th through 19th CPC Central Committees

Member, Political Bureau, 18th and 19th CPC Central Committees

Appointed CPC Central Military Commission member at the First Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central CommitteeH Appointed PRC Central Military Commission member at the First Session of the 11th NPC

Appointed CPC Central Military Commission Vice Chairman at the Seventh Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee

Appointed CPC Central Military Commission Vice Chairman at the First Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee

Appointed PRC Central Military Commission Vice Chairman at the First Session of the 12th NPC

Appointed CPC Central Military Commission Vice Chairman at the First Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee