Ding Zhongli (; born 14 January 1957) is a Chinese

geologist A geologist is a scientist who studies the structure, composition, and History of Earth, history of Earth. Geologists incorporate techniques from physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and geography to perform research in the Field research, ...

and officeholder, who is the chairman of the

China Democratic League The China Democratic League (CDL) is one of the eight minor democratic parties in the People's Republic of China under the direction of the Chinese Communist Party. The CDL was originally founded in 1941 as a pro-democracy umbrella coalition g ...

and a vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

Biography

Ding was born in Shengzhou,

Zhejiang ) , translit_lang1_type2 = , translit_lang1_info2 = ( Hangzhounese) ( Ningbonese) (Wenzhounese) , image_skyline = 玉甑峰全貌 - panoramio.jpg , image_caption = View of the Yandang Mountains , image_map = Zhejiang i ...

in January 1957. He received a bachelor of science with a major in

geochemistry Geochemistry is the science that uses the tools and principles of chemistry to explain the mechanisms behind major geological systems such as the Earth's crust and its oceans. The realm of geochemistry extends beyond the Earth, encompassing the e ...

from

Zhejiang University Zhejiang University (ZJU) is a public university, public research university in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Education (China), Ministry of Education. The university is part of Project 211, Project 985, and D ...

in 1982. He received a

master of science A Master of Science (; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree. In contrast to the Master of Arts degree, the Master of Science degree is typically granted for studies in sciences, engineering and medici ...

and a

doctor of science A Doctor of Science (; most commonly abbreviated DSc or ScD) is a science doctorate awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. Africa Algeria and Morocco In Algeria, Morocco, Libya and Tunisia, all universities accredited by the s ...

paleontology Paleontology, also spelled as palaeontology or palæontology, is the scientific study of the life of the past, mainly but not exclusively through the study of fossils. Paleontologists use fossils as a means to classify organisms, measure ge ...

and

stratigraphy Stratigraphy is a branch of geology concerned with the study of rock layers (strata) and layering (stratification). It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks. Stratigraphy has three related subfields: lithost ...

from the Institute of Geology,

Chinese Academy of Sciences The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS; ) is the national academy for natural sciences and the highest consultancy for science and technology of the People's Republic of China. It is the world's largest research organization, with 106 research i ...

in 1982 and 1985, respectively. Ding's research mainly focuses on the Neogene eolian sediments and ancient climate. He is the current director-general of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is also the vice president of the Chinese Society for Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry. In December 2005, Ding was elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In January 2008, he was appointed the vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 2008, Ding became a member of the

Standing Committee of the National People's Congress The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) is the permanent body of the National People's Congress (NPC), the national legislature of the People's Republic of China. It exercises the powers of the NPC when it is not in s ...

(NPCSC). In December 2017, Ding was elected as the chairperson of the

, one of the minor political parties in China. In March 2018, Ding was elected as a

vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress The vice chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress are deputies to the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, respon ...

. On 7 December 2020, pursuant to Executive Order 13936, the US Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on all 14 NPCSC vice chairpersons including Ding, for "undermining

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

's autonomy and restricting the freedom of expression or assembly." On March 10, 2023, during the

14th National People's Congress The 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is the sitting electoral term of the "supreme organ of state power" of the China, People's Republic of China. It convened in Beijing, on 5 March 2023, and is scheduled to continue until March 2028. Electio ...

, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. On 3 June 2023, Ding attended the third inauguration of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as Turkish president as the special envoy of Chinese president

Xi Jinping Xi Jinping, pronounced (born 15 June 1953) is a Chinese politician who has been the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (China), chairman of the Central Military Commission ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ding, Zhongli 1957 births Living people Council of Chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress Council of Chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress Chairpersons of the China Democratic League Chinese geologists Individuals sanctioned by the United States under the Hong Kong Autonomy Act Members of the 10th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Members of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress Members of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress People from Shengzhou People's Republic of China politicians from Zhejiang Politicians from Shaoxing Scientists from Shaoxing Zhejiang University alumni