Zhang Baifa

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In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhang.

Zhang Baifa (Chinese: 张百发; 1935 – 5 July 2019) was a Chinese politician and a construction worker by trade. He became a protégé of Wan Li and rose to the position of Vice Mayor and Executive Vice Mayor of Beijing, serving from 1983 to 1995. Zhang was in charge of major construction projects in Beijing, including those in preparation for the 1990 Asian Games, and led the city's unsuccessful bid for the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Early life and career in construction

Zhang was born in 1935 in

Republic of China. In 1948, he moved with his father, a weaver, to Beijing. Owing to poverty, he was unable to attend school and worked as his father's assistant.[1]

With the founding of the

correspondence education degree from the Renmin University of China.[1]

Zhang was named a "

Communist Party of China in the same year.[2] He was elected a delegate to the 4th National People's Congress,[2] and the Beijing leader Deng Tuo called him a "people's hero".[1]

From 1958 to 1966, when Wan Li served as Vice Mayor of Beijing in charge of construction, Li Ruihuan and Zhang Baifa were his key assistants and described in Chinese media as the "Heng and Ha Generals" of Wan.[1][2] However, Wan was purged when the Cultural Revolution erupted in 1966, and Zhang was also persecuted as his protégé.[1]

Vice Mayor of Beijing

After the end of Cultural Revolution, Zhang was rehabilitated and appointed Vice Mayor of Beijing in 1983. He later served as Executive Vice Mayor until his retirement in 1998. During his tenure, he was in charge of major construction projects in Beijing, such as those in preparation for the 1990 Asian Games.[1]

Zhang led Beijing's unsuccessful

1996 Atlanta Olympic Games as revenge.[3] In his interview with the television station, he praised American people but called the US Congress "stupid".[3] He Zhenliang, head of the Chinese Olympic Committee, denied that Zhang's remarks represented official Chinese policy.[3]

Because of his humble background and approachable personality, Zhang was praised in Chinese media as a "people's mayor".

high energy physics.[4][5]

Later life and death

Zhang and his wife Wang Shulan (王淑兰) had a son and a daughter. By coincidence, his wife shared the same name and birthdate as the wife of his friend and colleague Li Ruihuan, who rose to the

Politburo Standing Committee.[6]

Zhang died in Beijing on 5 July 2019, at the age of 84.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Fan Jianghong 樊江洪 (5 July 2019). "张百发：新中国首都建设的重要人物，退休后致力京剧振兴". Jiefang Daily. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e Wang Ge 王哿 (5 July 2019). "北京市原副市长张百发逝世，曾被称为"平民市长"". The Paper. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  3. ^
    ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  4. ISBN 978-0-521-58863-8
    .
  5. ISBN 978-0-307-76714-1
    .
  6. ^ "从钢筋工到副市长 张百发的传奇人生". Phoenix TV. 30 April 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
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