Before the 20th Fifth Plenary Session of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), a major personnel reshuffle is underway in the officialdom. Hu Haifeng, son of former party leader Hu Jintao and currently the Deputy Minister of Civil Affairs, appeared at a press conference with his colleagues. Chinese media once again highlighted Hu Haifeng, while overseas netizens discussed his white hair despite not receiving further promotion. However, Hong Kong media believes that Hu Haifeng has a chance to enter the Central Committee at the 21st CCP National Congress, although it poses challenges.
Hong Kong’s “Sing Tao Daily” published an article on October 1, stating that it is currently the period of personnel reorganization before the 21st CCP National Congress. The personnel selection team for the 21st Central Committee and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection is currently conducting inspections.
Hu Haifeng is not currently a member of the Central Committee or the Central Commission. He was promoted from the Party Secretary of Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, to Deputy Minister of Civil Affairs in January 2024, joining the ranks of central-level officials. According to the Hong Kong media, Hu Haifeng lacks experience as a top local official and has not overseen a major economy. With around 3,000 central-level officials, it would be challenging for Hu Haifeng to secure one of the approximately 500 seats in the Central Committee, but there is still a possibility.
It is worth noting that members of the Central Committee and alternate members generated from the 20th CCP National Congress were said to have been personally chosen by Xi Jinping, considered part of the broader “Xi’s faction.” However, since 2023, many of these members have fallen from grace.
The aforementioned Hong Kong media article mentioned that if Hu Haifeng undergoes inspection for the Central Committee, the inspection team may talk to his former colleagues, including his former secretary Li Shichao, who has recently enjoyed rising fortunes.
Reportedly, Li Shichao, Hu Haifeng’s fellow alumnus from Tsinghua University and colleague at the Zhejiang Tsinghua Yangtze River Delta Research Institute, followed Hu Haifeng to Jiaxing and Lishui. When Hu Haifeng was appointed Deputy Minister of Civil Affairs, Li Shichao was appointed the Deputy Party Secretary of Yunhe County under Lishui City, then promoted to County Head in February this year and further to Party Secretary in August.
On September 23, the State Council Information Office of China held a press conference related to themes of the “15th Five-Year Plan,” where Minister of Civil Affairs Li Changguan and Deputy Minister Hu Haifeng among other officials presented. Several Chinese media outlets individually reported on Hu Haifeng’s remarks on children’s welfare work. However, overseas netizens were more concerned that despite being a member of the post-70s generation, Hu Haifeng already sports a head of snow-white hair.
Born in November 1972 (53 years old), Hu Haifeng previously served as the General Manager of Tiandi Weishi Technology Co., Ltd., Party Secretary of Tsinghua Holdings Co., Ltd., and Party Secretary of the Zhejiang Tsinghua Yangtze River Delta Research Institute. After Hu Jintao stepped down following the 18th CCP National Congress and Xi Jinping took office, Hu Haifeng served as Deputy Party Secretary of Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province in May 2013, concurrently becoming the Secretary of the Politics and Law Committee of Jiaxing City in March 2014, Mayor of Jiaxing City in March 2016, and Party Secretary of Lishui City, Zhejiang Province in July 2018.
During his tenure in Lishui City, rumors of promotions for Hu Haifeng repeatedly fell through until he was transferred to Deputy Minister of Civil Affairs in January 2024, a position with relatively marginal authority. On June 30, 2026, after Li Changguan succeeded Lu Zhiyuan as the head of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Hu Haifeng ranked first among the deputy ministers.