The following is a biographical sketch of Chen Zhili, whose nomination as State Councillor was approved Monday at the First Session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC)

Female, of Han nationality, born in November 1942, native of Xianyou, Fujian Province; joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in January 1961; associate research fellow.

Studied in the Physics Department of Fudan University, majoring in solid-state physics, in 1959-1964; postgraduate at Shanghai Institute of Silicate of China Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 1964- 1968 (joined "four clean-up" work team from August 1965 to January 1967).

Labored in Danyang Lake Farm affiliated to the No. 6409 Army Unit of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 1968-1970; intern and associate research fellow at the Shanghai Institute of Silicate of CAS in 1970-1980; visiting scholar at the material research institute of the University of Pennsylvania, United States, in 1980-1982.

Associate research fellow of the Shanghai Institute of Silicate of CAS, and deputy secretary of CPC Committee of the institute in 1982-1984; deputy secretary and secretary of Science and Technology Work Committee of CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, head of Publicity Department of CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee in 1984-1988; a member of the Standing Committee, and head of Publicity Department, of CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee in 1988- 1989.

Deputy secretary and head of Publicity Department of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee in 1989-1991; deputy secretary of CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee in 1991-1997; secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group, and vice minister, of State Education Commission in 1997-1998; minister of Education, secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of the Ministry of Education since 1998 (studied in the Party School of the CPC Central Committee in September-November 2001).

Alternate member of the 13th and 14th CPC Central Committees; member of the 15th and 16th CPC Central Committees.

(xinhua)