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Kung Hsiang-HsiChinese politician and statesman, banker
Date of Birth: 11.09.1881
Country:  China |
Content:
- Birth and Early Life
- Education and Economic Expertise
- Political Career: A Nationalist
- Chairman of the Executive Yuan
- International Diplomacy and Legacy
- Personal Life
Birth and Early Life
Kong Xiangxi was born in Taigu County, Shanxi Province, China. He was a descendant of Confucius in the 75th generation, a fact reflected in his given name, Xiang.
Education and Economic Expertise
Kong received his education at Oberlin College and Yale University in the United States. He emerged as one of China's leading economists and amassed significant wealth, becoming the richest man in China during the pre-communist era.
Political Career: A Nationalist
Kong was a close associate of Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek, holding senior positions in the government of the Republic of China for many years. He served as Minister of Industry (1927-1928), Minister of Industry and Commerce (1928-1931), Minister of Finance (1933-1944), and President of the Central Bank of China (1933-1945).
Chairman of the Executive Yuan
From January 1, 1938, to December 11, 1939, Kong served as Chairman of the Executive Yuan, the highest-ranking executive position in the Chinese government.
International Diplomacy and Legacy
In July 1944, Kong led the Chinese delegation to the Bretton Woods Conference, which established the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. After the defeat of the Kuomintang army in the civil war, Kong emigrated to the United States. His visit to Germany in 1937, where he and two other officials met with Adolf Hitler, has left a controversial legacy.
Personal Life
Kong was married, in his second marriage, to Soong Ai-ling, the sister of the wives of Chiang Kai-shek and Sun Yat-sen.
