Biography
Cao was born in Weinan, Shaanxi, on 12 December 1953.[3] He entered the workforce in December 1969, and joined the Chinese Communist Party in February 1976.[3] In 1977, he graduated from East China Petroleum Institute (now China University of Petroleum), majoring in mining machine.[3]
Beginning in December 1969, he served in several posts in Shengli Oil Field, including worker, deputy chief engineer (1990–1997), general manager (2001–2002), and chairman (2002–2004).[3] In October 2004, he was appointed general manager assistant of China Petrochemical Corporation, one year later, he rose to become deputy general manager, serving in the post until his retirement in July 2014.[3]