Xian Hui (; Xiao'erjing: ; born March 1958) is a Chinese politician of Hui ethnic heritage, who is currently a vice chairperson of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. She previously served as the Chairwoman (Governor) of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region from July 2016 to May 2022. In 2016, along with Bu Xiaolin of Inner Mongolia and Shen Yiqin of Guizhou, Xian Hui was one of only three women to hold a provincial government leadership position in China.

Career

Xian Hui was born in Dingxi prefecture,

Gansu Gansu is a provinces of China, province in Northwestern China. Its capital and largest city is Lanzhou, in the southeastern part of the province. The seventh-largest administrative district by area at , Gansu lies between the Tibetan Plateau, Ti ...

in March 1958. During Down to the Countryside Movement, she became a Sent-down youth in Dingxi, performing manual labour. Between 1978 and 1981, she joined one of the first batches of students to be admitted to post-secondary education following the

Cultural Revolution The Cultural Revolution, formally known as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, was a Social movement, sociopolitical movement in the China, People's Republic of China (PRC). It was launched by Mao Zedong in 1966 and lasted until his de ...

and took up studies in Chinese literature at the Minzu University of China. After university, she returned to her home province, and began working in the provincial United Front Work Department, where she would rise steadily through its career ladder and serve until 2005, eventually rising to head the old cadres bureau and the deputy head of the Gansu United Front Department. In 2003, Xian was appointed deputy head of the

Chinese Communist Party The Communist Party of China (CPC), also translated into English as Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is the founding and One-party state, sole ruling party of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Founded in 1921, the CCP emerged victorious in the ...

's Organization Department of Gansu. In March 2007, Xian was named vice-governor. She was named to the

Chinese Communist Party Provincial Standing Committee Members of the standing committees of the Chinese Communist Party provincial-level committees, commonly referred to as ''Shengwei Changwei'' (), make up the top ranks of the provincial-level organizations of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). I ...

in April 2012. In May 2015, she became executive vice-governor; she served until July 2016. On 3 July 2016, Xian was named Chairwoman of Ningxia, a region bordering Gansu. Xian's ascension to the chairwoman's office marked the only known instance in the history of the People's Republic during which one woman succeeded another woman in a leading provincial CCP or government position. She was confirmed as government by the regional People's Congress on 19 September 2016.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Xian, Hui Living people 1958 births Chinese Communist Party politicians from Gansu People's Republic of China politicians from Gansu People from Dingxi Political office-holders in Ningxia Hui people Lanzhou University alumni Minzu University of China alumni Alternates of the 17th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party Alternates of the 18th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party Members of the 18th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party 21st-century Chinese women politicians 21st-century Chinese politicians Members of the 19th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party Chairpersons of Ningxia