Uyghur–Tatar politician who declared Xinjiang’s defection in 1949 and became chairman of the Xinjiang Provincial People’s Government
Born in Kazan Governorate, Russia, to a Volga Tatar mother and a Uyghur father from Aksu, he came to Dihua in 1912 and obtained Republic of China citizenship in 1914. A gifted linguist, he interpreted for Yang Zengxin and studied political economy in Berlin from 1929. Sheng Shicai imprisoned him from 1938 to 1944. In 1946 he became vice-chairman of the coalition government of Xinjiang formed between the Nationalists and the East Turkestan Republic forces, and in January 1949 chairman of the provincial government. In September he negotiated with the Communist envoy Deng Liqun and on 26 September announced Xinjiang’s surrender together with Tao Zhiyue. In December he became chairman of the Xinjiang Provincial People’s Government and joined the Communist Party, and as founder of the Islamic Association of China he worked in diplomacy with the Islamic world.
Also known as: Baoerhan
Activities and affiliations
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1946–1949
Republic of China state institutionsChairman of the Xinjiang provincial government
Government and administration -
1949–1955
People’s Republic of China state institutionsChairman of the Xinjiang Provincial People’s GovernmentMain
Government and administration -
1949–1989
Government and administration
Career Timeline
- 1912Came to Dihua as a shop clerk
- 1914Obtained ROC citizenship
- 1929Studied political economy in Berlin
- 1938–1944Imprisoned by Sheng Shicai
- 1946Vice-chairman, Xinjiang coalition government
- 1949Chairman of the Xinjiang provincial government; declared its defection on 26 September
- 1949–1955Chairman, Xinjiang Provincial People’s Government; joined the CCP
- 1952Head of the preparatory committee for the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
- 1956Toured Islamic countries; helped bring Egypt’s recognition