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

Male, of Han nationality, born in 1937; native to Huai'an, Jiangsu Province; holding the professional title of professor.

Studied at the Department of Chinese Literature of the Beijing Normal University in 1954-1959.

Served as an assistant lecturer, lecturer, associate professor, professor, dean and vice-president of the Beijing Normal University in 1959-1987; vice-president and professor of the Beijing Normal University, a Standing Committee member of the China Association for Promoting Democracy (CAPD) Central Committees, vice-chairman of the CPPCC Beijing Municipal Committee, vice-chairman of the 9th CAPD Central Committee, chairman of the CAPD Central Committee in 1987-1994; chairman of the State Language Work Committee and chairman of the State Language Work Committee in 1994-1997; president of the CAPD National Committee and chairman of the State Language Work Committee in 1997-1998.

Vice-chairman of the 9th NPC Standing Committee, president of the CAPD National Committee and chairman of the State Language Work Committee in 1998-2000; vice-chairman of the 9th NPC Standing Committee, president of the CAPD National Committee in 2000- present.