Space scientist turned Shenzhen party boss Ma Xingrui to give innovation a starring role

The man chosen to be Shenzhen’s new party boss, Ma Xingrui, is described as a pragmatic and open-minded reformist who will likely lead the city’s next world-class innovation hub.

Ma, 56, a former moon mission chief, was appointed as Shenzhen party head on March 26 based on his track record in hi-tech innovation, apparently to pave the way for his rise to the ranks of the Communist Party’s next generation of leaders – if he can live up to the mission.

The Shandong-born Ma, the child of a miner, has long had the makings of a rising star in the party. He was among the first batch of students on the mainland to enter university in 1978 after the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), majoring in applied mechanics.

Working his way up, in 1993, Ma, then aged 34, became the youngest doctoral supervisor at the Harbin Institute of Technology.

Three years later, the Chinese Ministry of Personnel awarded Ma the title “Middle-aged and Young Expert with Outstanding Contributions at the National Level” – the prelude to a career as one of the nation’s top scientists in artificial satellites and aerospace.

According to experts in the city government’s think tanks, Ma’s science and technology credentials will energise Shenzhen’s ambition to be the next world-class innovation hub, attracting overseas talent and capital.