Former Chinese top legislator Qiao Shi dies in Beijing at age 91

File photo of Qiao Shi. [Photo/Xinhua's official Sina Weibo account]

BEIJING - Qiao Shi, former chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, died in Beijing at 7:08 am on Sunday, according to a statement from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Qiao, 91, was extolled in the statement as an excellent Party member, a time-tested and loyal communist soldier, and an outstanding proletarian revolutionist, statesman and leader of the Party and the state. He was a former member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

Born in 1924 in Shanghai, he joined the CPC in 1940. Later, he led Shanghai students in revolutionary movements as the head of the underground CPC committee of Tongji University, as well as other functions.

Shortly after the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, Qiao assumed a series of positions, spanning from Hangzhou municipal CPC committee official, to president of an iron and steel research institute.

In 1978, after the 10-year "Cultural Revolution" ended, Qiao became deputy head of the International Department of the Central Committee of the CPC and later the head. During that time he promoted communication between the CPC, communist and socialist Parties of other countries, according to the statement.

Qiao became director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee in 1983, where he transitioned the Office from a focus on class struggle to economic development following the reform and opening-up policy.

After Qiao became head of the CPC Central Committee Organization Department in April, 1984, he helped build a legion of young cadres, and implemented Party policies regarding the country's once-persecuted scholars and professionals, bringing them back to social esteem.

He also served as head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee.

Qiao became a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in 1987 and assumed the position as head of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Qiao became chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, or China's top legislator, in March 1993, and supervised revisions to the Constitution so that the theory of building socialism with Chinese Characteristics has been written into the Constitution as a guiding principle.

He also oversaw legislation works for a series of economic laws so that the legal framework of socialist market economy could take shape, the statement said.

Qiao retired from the post of top legislator in March 1998.