Xu Lin (Chinese: 徐麟; pinyin: Xú Lín; born June 1963) is a Chinese politician, who is currently serving as the Communist Party secretary of Guizhou. Previously he served as director of the State Council Information Office and director of the National Radio and Television Administration. He also served as the main official in charge of internet policy, the head of the Cyberspace Administration of China, from June 2016 to July 2018.[1] Xu was previously the head of the Shanghai propaganda department and later Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary of Pudong.

Xu Lin
徐麟
Xu in June 2020
Communist Party Secretary of Guizhou
Assumed office
9 December 2022
DeputyLi Bingjun (Governor)
General SecretaryXi Jinping
Preceded byShen Yiqin
Director of the National Radio and Television Administration
In office
8 June 2022 – 3 February 2023
PremierLi Keqiang
Preceded byNie Chenxi
Succeeded byCao Shumin [zh]
Director of the State Council Information Office
In office
21 August 2018 – 8 June 2022
PremierLi Keqiang
Preceded byJiang Jianguo
Succeeded bySun Yeli
Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China
In office
19 July 2016 – 21 August 2018
PremierLi Keqiang
Preceded byLu Wei
Succeeded byZhuang Rongwen
Personal details
BornJune 1963 (age 61)
Shanghai, China
Political partyChinese Communist Party
Alma materShanghai Normal University

Biography

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Xu Lin was born in Shanghai in June 1963. He was graduated from Shanghai Normal University and joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in September 1982.[2] Xu was the teacher of Zhoupu High School (周浦中学), and the CCP standing committee member and acting deputy county chief in Nanhui County at the age of 29. Later, he became the CCP deputy secretary of Jiading District. In 1995, he became deputy secretary of Shigatse Prefecture in Tibet.[3]

Xu returned to Shanghai in 1997, and served as the general manager of Nong Gong Shang Group (农工商集团). Later, he served as Party branch chief and CEO. In 2003, Xu was appointed as director of Civil Affairs Bureau of Shanghai and director of Agriculture Committee of Shanghai in 2007. In 2008, Xu became the Party Committee Secretary of Pudong. He served as the head of the Shanghai CCP's propaganda department in 2013.[3][4]

In 2015, Xu served as the deputy head of the General Office of the Central Leading Group for Internet Security and Informatization,[5] and promoted to the head on June 29, 2016.[1] Xu is regarded as a political ally of Xi Jinping, the current General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and paramount leader,[1] and dubbed a “political star” by the 21st Century Business Herald (21世纪经济报道).[3]

In 2018, Xu was appointed as the director of the State Council Information Office. Xu is a member of the 19th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.[6]

In November 2020, Xu Lin, gave a speech in which he emphasized the need to "resolutely guard against digitalisation diluting the party’s leadership, resolutely prevent the risk of capital manipulating public opinion."[7][8][9]

On 3 February 2023 he was removed as the director of the National Radio and Television Administration.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "China's powerful internet tsar steps aside as another of Xi Jinping's close allies to take over". South China Morning Post. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  2. ^ "上海团校上师大青年学院建校60年 韩正等发来贺信题词". 上海师范大学. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
  3. ^ a b c "China's new top censor: A 'political star' rises". Hong Kong Free Press. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  4. ^ "董云虎任上海市委宣传部部长 看看前几任部长去哪儿了?". China News Service. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
  5. ^ "上海市委原常委徐麟调任中央网信办副主任". ifeng.com. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
  6. ^ "国务院任免国家工作人员(2018年8月21日)". MoHRSS.
  7. ^ "Xu Lin, Deputy Minister of the Central Propaganda Department: Resolutely prevent capital from manipulating public opinion". Guancha (in Chinese). November 19, 2020. Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  8. ^ "Chinese Communist Party tells online media firms to put loyalty first". South China Morning Post. 2020-11-20. Archived from the original on 2022-06-02. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  9. ^ "China's Big Tech Crackdown is Not a Model for the U.S." Human Rights Watch. 2021-03-16. Archived from the original on 2022-06-02. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  10. ^ "China's State Council appoints, removes officials". Xinhua News Agency. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
Government offices
Preceded by
Shi Derong (施德荣)
Director of Shanghai Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau
2003–2007
Succeeded by
Wang Wei
Preceded by
Yuan Yixing (袁以星)
Director of Shanghai Municipal Agricultural Commission
2007–2008
Succeeded by
Sun Lei (孙雷)
Preceded by Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China
2016–2018
Succeeded by
Preceded by Director of the State Council Information Office
2018–2022
Succeeded by
Preceded by Director of the National Radio and Television Administration
2022–2023
Succeeded by
Cao Shumin
Party political offices
Preceded by Communist Party Secretary of Pudong
2008–2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by Head of Publicity Department of Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Chinese Communist Party
2013–2015
Succeeded by
Preceded by Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission
2016–2018
Succeeded by
Preceded by Communist Party Secretary of Guizhou
2022–present
Incumbent