Zhou Qiang

Zhou Qiang (; born 25 April 1960) is a Chinese politician who is a vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Previously, he served as the secretary of the Chinese Communist Party's Hunan committee, the effective head of the province of Hunan. He served as the province's governor between 2007 and 2010. Zhou also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Youth League of China between 1998 and 2006. Between 2018 and 2023, he served as the chief justice and president of the Supreme People's Court. Life and career Born in Huangmei County, Hubei Province, Zhou grew up during the Cultural Revolution. In 1978, he was part of the first batch of students admitted through the National College Entrance Examinations to the Southwest University of Political Science & Law. Zhou obtained a master's degree in law in 1986. He joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during his studies, in 1983. In November 1995, he was elected secretary of the central secretariat of the Chinese Communist Youth League (CYL) at the 4th plenary session of the 13th CYL central committee. In June 1998, he was elevated to first secretary of the CYL central secretariat, and was re-elected in July 2003.