The following is the biographical sketch of Ismail Amat, who was just elected vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC):

Male, born in 1935, of Uygur nationality, native of Qira, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Joined Communist Party of China (CPC) in 1953; received higher education.

Participated in land reform in Qira in 1952-1954; secretary of Communist Youth League of China Qira County Committee in 1954-1956; deputy secretary of CPC Qira County Committee and county magistrate in 1956-1963; deputy head of Publicity Department of CPC Hotan Prefecture Committee in 1963-1965; deputy director of Cultural, Education and Political Work Department of CPC Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee in 1966-1967; member of Standing Committee of Xinjiang Uygur Regional Revolutionary Committee in 1969-1972; secretary, and head of Organization Department, of CPC Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee in 1971-1979; deputy secretary of CPC Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee and chairman of regional government in 1979- 1985.

Minister in charge of State Ethnic Affairs Commission and secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group in 1986-1988; vice- chairman of National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), member of Leading Party Members' Group of CPPCC National Committee, minister in charge of State Ethnic Affairs Commission and secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group in 1988-1993.

State councilor and concurrently minister in charge of State Ethnic Affairs Commission and secretary of its Leading Party Members' Group in 1993-1998; state councilor and member of Leading Party Members' Group of State Council since 1998.

Member of 10th to 16th CPC Central Committee.

Augmented as member of NPC Standing Committee at third session of 5th NPC.
Vice-chairman of 7th CPPCC National Committee.