Wu Yi (politician)

Wu Yi
吴仪
Wu in 2004
First-ranked Vice Premier of China
In office
2 June 2007 – 17 March 2008
PremierWen Jiabao
Preceded byHuang Ju
Succeeded byLi Keqiang
Vice Premier of China
In office
17 March 2003 – 17 March 2008
Serving with Huang Ju, Zeng Peiyan, and Hui Liangyu
PremierWen Jiabao
State Councilor of the People’s Republic of China
In office
18 March 1998 – 16 March 2003
PremierZhu Rongji
Minister of Health
In office
April 2003 – April 2005
PremierWen Jiabao
Preceded byZhang Wenkang
Succeeded byGao Qiang
Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation
In office
March 1993 – March 1998
PremierLi Peng
Preceded byLi Lanqing
Succeeded byShi Guangsheng
Personal details
BornNovember 1938 (age 85–86)
Wuhan, Republic of China
Political partyChinese Communist Party (1962–)
Alma materChina University of Petroleum
Wu Yi
Traditional Chinese吳儀
Simplified Chinese吴仪
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinWú Yí

Wu Yi (born November 1938) is a retired Chinese politician who served as a Vice Premier of China between 2003 and 2008. She was one of the country's most visible leaders during the first decade of the 21st century, best known for taking on the role of Minister of Health from April 2003 during the SARS outbreak, shortly after becoming vice premier. She was also a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party. She has since retired and left public life. She was commonly referred to as the "iron lady" by Chinese media, and was known to be a tough negotiator internationally.

Wu Yi with US Secretary of State Colin Powell