CHINA

Former Power Executive Xie Weijiang Takes Charge of Hunan Government

Published: Nov. 2, 2026 11:02 a.m. GMT+8

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Xie Weijiang delivers a speech before taking office. Photo: Hunan Daily

Hunan appointed Xie Weijiang as acting governor on Friday, placing the 53-year-old former power-industry executive in charge of one of China’s largest provincial economies after a broader leadership reshuffle.

The standing committee of Hunan’s provincial legislature accepted the resignation of Mao Weiming as governor and appointed Xie vice governor and acting governor, the Hunan Daily app reported. The decision came six days after Xie was named head of the provincial government’s Communist Party group, a post that typically precedes appointment as governor.

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Xie Weijiang, 53, appointed acting governor of Hunan, succeeding Mao Weiming.
Former power-industry executive; reshuffle also replaced top party official Shen Xiaoming with Wang Zhijun.
Xie is China’s second-youngest provincial government head; change precedes Hunan’s party congress in November.

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Who’s Who

State Grid Corp. of China: State Grid Corp. of China was previously chaired by Mao Weiming, who served as Hunan governor from 2020 until his resignation in 2025. The company is a power-sector enterprise, and its leadership background has been significant in advancing provincial officials' careers in China.

China Datang Corp.: China Datang Corp. is a state-owned enterprise. The article mentions it as the parent of China Water Resources and Electric Power Materials Group, where Xie Weijiang spent much of his career before entering government.

China Water Resources and Electric Power Materials Group: According to the article, China Water Resources and Electric Power Materials Group is a unit of China Datang Corp. Xie Weijiang, Hunan's acting governor, spent much of his career there before later serving as head of Datang's general office.

Harbin Electric Corp.: Harbin Electric Corp. (哈尔滨电气集团有限公司) is a Chinese power-industry company. Xie Weijiang served as a vice general manager there in 2018 before entering government in 2020 as Hunan's youngest vice governor. The article provides no further details about the firm.

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What Happened When

2018：: Xie Weijiang became a vice general manager of Harbin Electric Corp.

2020：: Mao Weiming began serving as Hunan governor.

2020：: Xie Weijiang moved into government as Hunan's youngest vice governor.

2021：: Xie Weijiang joined Hunan's party standing committee.

December 2023：: Xie Weijiang became party chief of Yueyang.

July 2024：: A dike breach at Tuanzhou polder in Huarong county occurred; 7,680 people evacuated.

July 8, 2024：: The 226-meter breach was sealed.

July 2025：: Xie Weijiang was promoted to Hunan deputy party secretary.

November 2026：: Hunan's 13th provincial party congress scheduled in Changsha.

2026-11-06：: Hunan appointed Xie Weijiang as acting governor; legislature accepted Mao Weiming's resignation as governor and Shen Xiaoming's resignation as chairman of its standing committee.