Biography:Ma Xingrui

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Short description: Chinese politician (born 1959)
In this article, the family name is Ma.
Ma Xingrui
马兴瑞
Ma in 2013
Party Secretary of Xinjiang
In office
25 December 2021 – 1 July 2025
DeputyErkin Tuniyaz (chairman)
General secretaryXi Jinping
Preceded byChen Quanguo
Succeeded byChen Xiaojiang
Governor of Guangdong
In office
30 December 2016 – 25 December 2021
LeaderHu Chunhua (2016–2017)
Li Xi (2017 onwards)
Preceded byZhu Xiaodan
Succeeded byWang Weizhong
Party Secretary of Shenzhen
In office
26 March 2015 – 30 December 2016
DeputyXu Qin (mayor)
Preceded byWang Rong
Succeeded byXu Qin
Director of the China National Space Administration
In office
March 2013 – November 2013
Preceded byChen Qiufa
Succeeded byXu Dazhe
Personal details
BornOctober 1959 (age 66–67)
Shuangyashan, Heilongjiang, China
Political partyChinese Communist Party (1988–2026, expelled)
Alma materLiaoning Technical University
Tianjin University
Harbin Institute of Technology
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Ma Xingrui (Chinese: 马兴瑞; born October 1959) is a Chinese politician and aerospace engineer who was a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party from 2022 to 2026. He served as the Party Secretary of Xinjiang from 2021 to 2025.

Ma served as Vice President of Harbin Institute of Technology, General Manager of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Director of the China National Space Administration, and chief commander of Chang'e 3, China's first lunar exploration mission. He later served as the Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Head of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of Guangdong, Party Secretary of Shenzhen, Deputy Party Secretary of Guangdong, and Governor of Guangdong.

Ma became the Party secretary of Xinjiang in December 2021 and a member of the Politburo in October 2022. His tenure saw a relative easing of security policies in Xinjiang and more focus on economic development. He was succeeded by Chen Xiaojiang in July 2025. In April 2026, it was announced that Ma was under investigation for "serious violation of law and discipline" by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI). On 14 July 2026, Ma was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party and removed from public positions, pending a final verdict from the court.

Education and academic career

Ma Xingrui was born on 6 October 1959 in Shuangyashan, Heilongjiang province, to a family of mine workers in China's industrial northeast. His branch of the family migrated from Yuncheng County, Shandong to Shuangyashan in the 1930s during his grandfather's generation.[1] He received a bachelor's degree at Fuxin Mining College (now Liaoning Technical University) in 1982, and went on to graduate school for general mechanics at Tianjin University. He earned his doctorate in mechanics at Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) in 1985.[2]

Ma joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in January 1988. He stayed at HIT to pursue post-doctoral work, first working as an instructor and associate professor before being named a professor in 1991. In April 1992 he became dean of the school of mechanics at the institute, later becoming the vice dean of the Aerospace College in 1985. In April 1996 he was named vice president of the institute.[2][3]

Aerospace industry

Ma as chairperson of China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) speaking at the IAEA General Conference in Vienna (2013)

In May 1996, Ma was appointed vice dean of China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), and became the leader and chief engineer of the Shijian 5 satellite project. In 1999, he was named deputy general manager of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). In December 2003, he was additionally appointed Chairman of the Sino Satellite Communications and worked on various lunar missions.[3] In 2007, Ma was promoted to General Manager of CASC.[4]

In 2013, Ma was appointed Director of the China National Space Administration, Director of the China Atomic Energy Authority, Director of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, and Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology.[4] He was the chief commander of the successful Chang'e 3 mission, China's first lunar surface exploration.[5]

Political career

Guangdong

In 2012, Ma was elected as a full member of the 18th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.[4] In November 2013, Ma left his posts in science and was transferred to Guangdong to serve as deputy party secretary of the province and concurrently the secretary of the provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission. In March 2015, he was named Party Secretary of Shenzhen, replacing Wang Rong.[5] Ma's appointment in Shenzhen placed him in his first executive party leadership role. His appointment also elevated the status of the office, given that his predecessor Wang is only an alternate member of the Central Committee, while Ma is a full member.[6] In late 2015, Ma gave Shenzhen's three largest bus operators – Shenzhen Bus Group, Shenzhen Eastern Bus Company and Shenzhen Western Bus Company – a three-year deadline to establish all-electric fleets.[7] In October 2016, he announced Shenzhen would transfer the ownership the Lok Ma Chau Loop to Hong Kong with the intention to develop it with Hong Kong.[8]

Ma speaking at the 20th Conference on Remote Sensing of China in Shenzhen (2016)

In December 2016, Ma was appointed as the acting Governor of Guangdong. In a break with tradition, Ma became the first governor in over 30 years not native to the province.[9] Ma was elected as the Governor of Guangdong on 23 January 2017.[10] In March 2017, while meeting the Guangdong provincial delegation at the National People's Congress, Ma said he hoped the Greater Bay Area would "compete with bay areas in Los Angeles, New York and Tokyo Bay". He called on cooperation on a wide range of social and economic policies between the cities of the Greater Bay Area and said the Guangdong provincial government asked the China Center for International Economic Exchanges to study the Greater Bay Area initiative.[11]

In October 2017, Ma was elected as a full member of the 19th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.[12] In November 2017, Ma and Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam signed a deal to house a facility for Hong Kong and mainland Chinese law enforcement at the West Kowloon terminus of the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link.[13] During his tenure as governor, in August 2018, 14 companies from Singapore signed agreements with Guangdong companies to collaborate in research and development, technology, smart cities development, transport and logistics, education, biomedical sciences and professional services.[14] In September 2021, Ma became the co-head of the Hengqin Management Committee along with Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng.[15]

Xinjiang

In December 2021, Ma was appointed the Party Secretary of Xinjiang.[16][17] During his first tour of Ürümqi, he said the region should focus on modernizing Xinjiang's supply chains and improving the international business environment.[18] In January 2022, during the local "Two Sessions" meeting in Xinjiang, Ma called for upholding ethnic unity and guiding "religions to adapt to China’s socialist society".[19] Since his accession to the post, Xinjiang has seen relative normalization in some aspects, such as turnstiles between residential areas being removed and two-day breaks in weekends for public officials being restored.[20] In October 2022, Ma was elected as a member of the CCP Politburo.[21]

Ma meeting Chairman of the Mäjilis of Kazakhstan Erlan Qoşanov in Ürümqi (2024)

In March 2023, Ma visited Astana, Kazakhstan and met with president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and prime minister Älihan Smaiylov, discussing boosting trade; his predecessor Chen Quanguo did not undertake any trips overseas during his tenure in Xinjiang.[22] In September 2023, he met with Corinne Vargha, the head of the International Labour Organization's international labor standards department, where he said the accusations of forced labor in Xinjiang were "reckless rumors".[23] In March 2024, Ma stated that sinicization of Islam in Xinjiang is "inevitable."[24] In June 2024, he met with Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan.[25] In July 2024, after Xinjiang completed a military-police joint exercise, Ma called for eliminating "all terrorist threats at the initial stage, and push forward with normalizing counterterrorism work".[26] In August 2024, Ma met with Temasek executives from Singapore in Ürümqi to boost foreign investment in Xinjiang, particularly in the energy sector.[27] That same month Ma, along with other senior officials, met with Cambodian king Norodom Sihamoni in Ürümqi.[27][28]

Ma meeting Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov during Minnikhanov's visit to China (2024)

In an interview with Voice of America, Abduweli Ayup, a Norway-based Uyghur activist, accused Ma of expanding forced labor.[29] In March 2025, Ma held meeting with Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai regarding Thailand's deportation of 40 Uyghurs to China.[30] He was succeeded as party secretary by Chen Xiaojiang on 1 July 2025.[31]

Downfall

After leaving Xinjiang, Ma became absent from the several key events since November 2025, sparking speculations about his fate.[32][33] In December 2025, Chen Weijun, who served as the Executive Vice Chairman of Xinjiang under Ma's tenure, was put under investigation.[34] In March 2026, Guo Yonghang, who served as secretary-general of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee when Ma was the Shenzhen Party secretary, was put under investigation.[35] In April 2026, it was announced that Ma was under investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) for suspected "serious violation of law and discipline" without further specification.[36] The report of the announcement also revealed that Ma Xingrui had been appointed as the deputy leader of the Central Rural Work Leading Group at some point after leaving Xinjiang.[37] On 26 June 2026, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress removed Ma as a delegate to the 14th National People's Congress.[38]

On 30 June 2026, the Politburo accepted the report on Ma's cases by the CCDI.[39] On 14 July 2026, Ma was expelled from the CCP and removed from public office.[40] Xinhua News Agency reported his ill-gotten gains would be confiscated and that he would be handed over to the judiciary to face trial.[39] The CCDI report stated that Ma was found to "lost his ideals and beliefs", abandoned "his political conviction", "betrayed the party's principles and original mission" and "seriously violated [the party's] political discipline and rules". Additionally, the CCDI report stated he had improperly accepted gifts and money, helped his relatives purchase properties at discounted prices, engaged in "power-for-sex and money-for-sex transactions" and fostered "rampant corruption across his family". It stated Ma used his position to seek benefits for others in business operations, project contracting and job promotions" and that through his family and associated, Ma was "illegally accepting huge amounts of money and property". The CCDI stated Ma failed to supervise and manage the illegal conduct of his staff and was "seeking benefits for others in cadre selection and appointment, and improperly arranging jobs for others, personally and through relatives". The CCDI accused Ma of not trustfully reporting his corruption during initial inquiries, stating his behavior continued after the 18th CCP National Congress, and added that Ma's behavior was "extremely serious in nature and [he was] an extremely bad influence".[39]

Personal life

Ma is married to Rong Li, who was his classmate from graduate school. The couple have a daughter, who holds a doctoral degree.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "马兴瑞2年内三次跨界式工作换岗" (in zh). Beijing Youth Daily. 26 March 2015. http://news.ifeng.com/a/20150326/43424363_0.shtml. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Ma Xingrui 马兴瑞". Brookings Institution. https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20thpartycongress_ma_xingrui.pdf. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 (in Chinese)People's Daily. 20 September 2007. http://cpc.people.com.cn/GB/64093/64096/6293305.html. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Ma Xingrui". China Vitae. 26 September 2024. http://www.chinavitae.com/biography/Ma_Xingrui. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 He Huifeng (26 March 2015). "China's moon mission chief Ma Xingrui named party chief of high-tech hub Shenzhen". South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/article/1747790/top-scientist-ma-xingrui-named-party-chief-shenzhen. 
  6. ↑ "马兴瑞执掌深圳 副省级市唯一"特例"". Duowei News. 26 March 2015. http://china.dwnews.com/news/2015-03-26/59643771.html. 
  7. ↑ Cheung, Rachel (10 November 2017). "Shenzhen set to have world's first all-electric public bus fleet". South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/2119175/why-shenzhen-set-have-first-all-electric-public. 
  8. ↑ Zhao, Shirley (2 February 2017). "Will hi-tech zone prove a happy hunting ground for Hong Kong?". South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2067555/will-hi-tech-zone-prove-happy-hunting-ground-hong-kong. 
  9. ↑ "马兴瑞任广东省副省长、代理省长" (in zh). The Paper. 30 December 2016. http://news.sohu.com/20161230/n477395607.shtml. 
  10. ↑ "李玉妹当选省人大常委会主任 马兴瑞当选广东省省长". Xinhua News Agency. 24 January 2017. http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2017-01/24/c_129459796.htm. 
  11. ↑ Zhou, Laura (6 March 2017). "Hong Kong-southern China Greater Bay Area 'to rival New York, Tokyo'". South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2076380/hong-kong-southern-china-greater-bay-area-rival-new. 
  12. ↑ "List of members of the 19th CPC Central Committee". State Council of the People's Republic of China. October 24, 2017. https://english.www.gov.cn/news/top_news/2017/10/24/content_281475919895866.htm. 
  13. ↑ Yau, Cannix; Lau, Stuart (18 November 2017). "Hong Kong signs joint checkpoint deal for high-speed rail project, allowing mainland Chinese officials to work on city soil". South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2120490/hong-kong-signs-joint-checkpoint-deal-high-speed-rail. 
  14. ↑ Lim, Linette (2018-08-24). "14 Singapore companies sign agreements to collaborate with Guangdong companies". https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/singapore-guangdong-capitaland-companies-agreements-collaborate-805786. 
  15. ↑ Cheung, Tony (17 September 2021). "Hong Kong risks falling behind in race to benefit from Qianhai plan, lawmakers say, as they call for officials to establish new links with Shenzhen". South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3149200/hong-kong-risks-falling-behind-race-benefit-qianhai-plan. 
  16. ↑ "新疆维吾尔自治区党委主要负责同志职务调整 马兴瑞任新疆维吾尔自治区党委书记" (in zh). 25 December 2021. http://www.news.cn/politics/2021-12/25/c_1128200313.htm. 
  17. ↑ Ni, Vincent (2021-12-26). "China replaces Xinjiang party boss associated with Uyghur crackdown" (in en-GB). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/26/china-replaces-xinjiang-party-boss-associated-uyghur-crackdown. 
  18. ↑ Wang, Amber (28 December 2021). "Xinjiang's new party chief calls for efforts to boost supply chains and improve international business". South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3161310/xinjiangs-new-party-chief-calls-efforts-boost-supply-chains-and. 
  19. ↑ Zheng, William (24 January 2022). "Uphold China's unity and socialist society, Xinjiang Communist Party chief tells minority and religious leaders". South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3164582/uphold-chinas-unity-and-socialist-society-xinjiang-communist. 
  20. ↑ Mu, Yao (2022-02-21). "恢復雙休——馬興瑞新政第一步？" (in zh-HK). https://www.hk01.com/中國觀察/737563/恢復雙休-馬興瑞新政第一步. 
  21. ↑ "(CPC Congress) List of members of 20th CPC Central Committee". https://english.news.cn/20221022/d84c69f11b2a4b79a7f9b102462c6661/c.html. 
  22. ↑ Lau, Jack (29 March 2023). "Xinjiang Communist Party boss ventures to Kazakhstan on trade mission". South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3215156/xinjiang-communist-party-boss-ventures-kazakhstan-trade-mission. 
  23. ↑ Zhuang, Sylvie (1 September 2023). "Xinjiang party chief meets UN labour group as China seeks to confront forced labour claims". South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3233161/xinjiang-party-chief-meets-un-labour-group-china-seeks-confront-forced-labour-claims. 
  24. ↑ Laurie, Chen (7 March 2024). "Top official from China's Xinjiang says 'Sinicisation' of Islam 'inevitable'". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/top-official-chinas-xinjiang-says-sinicisation-islam-inevitable-2024-03-07/. 
  25. ↑ Wang, Orange (6 June 2024). "Is Turkish minister's Xinjiang visit an effort to draw a line under human rights claims?". South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3265587/turkish-ministers-xinjiang-visit-effort-draw-line-under-human-rights-claims. 
  26. ↑ Lo, Kinling (6 July 2024). "China's Xinjiang Communist Party chief urges 'unwavering' terror crackdown". South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3269431/chinas-xinjiang-party-chief-urges-unwavering-terror-crackdown-stability-top-focus. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Energy sector in focus as Xinjiang party chief meets Temasek executives" (in en). 2024-08-21. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3275213/chinas-xinjiang-party-chief-ma-xingrui-meets-top-temasek-executives-singapore. 
  28. ↑ Horng, Pengly (2024-08-18). "King's visit to China's Xinjiang region deemed diplomatic success" (in en-US). https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501543518/kings-visit-to-chinas-xinjiang-region-deemed-diplomatic-success/. 
  29. ↑ Kashgar, Kasim (2024-11-26). "Uyghur exiles accuse Xinjiang's leader of repression beyond borders" (in en). https://www.voanews.com/a/uyghur-exiles-accuse-xinjiang-s-leader-of-repression-beyond-borders/7877900.html. 
  30. ↑ Cai, Vanessa (21 March 2025). "Praise for Xinjiang as Thai ministers visit deported Uygurs in western Chinese region". South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3303391/praise-xinjiang-thai-ministers-visit-deported-uygurs-western-chinese-region. 
  31. ↑ "China appoints ethnic affairs head as Xinjiang Communist Party chief". 2025-07-01. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-appoints-ethnic-affairs-head-xinjiang-communist-party-chief-2025-07-01/. 
  32. ↑ "China Politburo Member Misses Two Key Meetings as Mystery Builds". Bloomberg News. 12 December 2025. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-12/china-politburo-member-misses-two-key-meetings-as-mystery-builds. 
  33. ↑ "Chinese Politburo member Ma Xingrui under investigation by anti-graft watchdog" (in en). CNA. 3 April 2026. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/chinese-politburo-member-ma-xingrui-under-investigation-anti-graft-watchdog-6035436. 
  34. ↑ Zheng, William (2025-12-01). "Chen Weijun joins list of senior Xinjiang officials investigated for corruption" (in en). https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3334793/no-soil-corruption-chen-weijun-joins-list-senior-xinjiang-officials-investigated. 
  35. ↑ Liang, Xinlu (2026-03-28). "China puts Ma Xingrui protege Guo Yonghang under corruption investigation" (in en). https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348206/china-puts-ma-xingrui-protege-guo-yonghang-under-investigation-corruption. 
  36. ↑ "Chinese Politburo member Ma Xingrui under investigation by anti-graft watchdog". Reuters. April 3, 2026. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinese-politburo-member-ma-xingrui-under-investigation-by-anti-graft-watchdog-2026-04-03/. 
  37. ↑ "马兴瑞落马：习时代"技术官僚"代表陨落，一届中共政治局三名委员被查" (in zh-hans). 2026-04-03. https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/articles/cy472d80ewwo/simp. 
  38. ↑ "China strips generals, ex-financial regulator, politburo member of lawmaker posts". Reuters. 27 June 2026. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-strips-generals-ex-financial-regulator-politburo-member-lawmaker-posts-2026-06-27/. 
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 Zheng, William (2026-07-14). "China's ex-Politburo member Ma Xingrui's 'rampant corruption' included family" (in en). https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3360455/former-politburo-member-ma-xingrui-dismissed-after-corruption-investigation. 
  40. ↑ "Ma Xingrui expelled from CPC, removed from public office". China Daily. 14 July 2026. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202607/14/WS6a55ac71a310986e2b4652d8.html. 
Government offices
Preceded by
Zhu Xiaodan 		Governor of Guangdong
2016–2021 		Succeeded by
Wang Weizhong
Preceded by
Chen Qiufa 		Director of State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense
2013 		Succeeded by
Xu Dazhe
Party political offices
Preceded by
Chen Quanguo 		Party Secretary of Xinjiang
2021–2025 		Succeeded by
Chen Xiaojiang
Preceded by
Wang Rong 		Party Secretary of Shenzhen
2015–2016 		Succeeded by
Xu Qin
Preceded by
Zhu Mingguo 		Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission
2013–2015 		Succeeded by
Lin Shaochun
Deputy Party Secretary of Guangdong
2013–2016 		Succeeded by
Ren Xuefeng

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