Li Xiju

Li Xiju was the father of Li Qiang, current Premier of the State Council of China and member of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee. He was from Dong’ao Village, Caocun Town, Rui’an, Zhejiang Province.

Born into poverty, Li Xiju grew up in modest conditions. As a child, he lived in the family’s ancestral home, but due to hardship, during the 1960s he and his family often had to borrow vacant houses from fellow villagers to live in. In his youth, he worked as a coal refiner and later became a ticket clerk at the Grain Bureau in Dongmen, Rui’an (now the city center). Eventually, he returned to Mayu Town, where he served as head of the town’s Agricultural Management Office. Because of his cadre position, he was regarded with respect and carried considerable influence locally.

Li Xiju was known as diligent, upright, and responsible, both in his career and family life. Neighbors remembered him as a man of integrity and noted his emphasis on educating his children. His personality and perseverance deeply influenced his son Li Qiang, with locals saying: “Li Qiang followed in his father’s footsteps.” Li Qiang’s ambition and eventual path into politics were shaped in no small part by his father’s example.

In his family life, Li Xiju married Ruan Xiulian (nicknamed ‘Xiaonong’), a native of Mayu Town who once made a living selling pork. In their early years, the couple had limited savings and lived temporarily with Ruan’s family on Wenchang Lower Street before renting nearby housing. A few years later, Li Xiju built the family’s first home on Taihu Street, marking an improvement in their living conditions.

Li Qiang was born in July 1959 at his maternal grandfather’s home in Mayu Town. He grew up under the care of his maternal grandmother and other relatives, described as intelligent, sensible, and reasonable from a young age—traits locals often compared to those of his father. As the family’s pillar, Li Xiju not only worked to improve their livelihood but also laid the foundation for his son’s future path in politics.