Liu He
刘鹤
1952–present
- CCP Politburo Member
- Vice Premier of the State Council (2018–2023)
- China's chief trade negotiator with the U.S.
Biography
Core Economic Policymaker
Liu He was born in 1952 in Beijing, graduating from Renmin University before completing a public administration programme at Harvard's Kennedy School. He spent his career in macroeconomic policy, serving as Vice Chairman and Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, and became one of the principal architects of Xi Jinping's economic agenda. He was appointed Vice Premier of the State Council in March 2018, with responsibility for economic affairs.
US-China Trade Negotiations
After the trade war broke out, Liu He became China's chief trade negotiator with the United States, leading multiple delegations to Washington to meet with USTR Robert Lighthizer, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and others. He advocated resolving frictions through negotiation while defending China's core interests. In January 2020, he signed the Phase One trade agreement on behalf of China. He stepped down as Vice Premier in March 2023.