Professor Ji Baocheng was born in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province in November, 1944.
He graduated from Beijing Business College in 1966, and received his Master’s degree in Economics from Renmin University (RUC) in 1981.

Professor Ji's academic endeavors focus on teaching and research work in the fields of commodity circulation, trade economics, marketing, and higher education. He has made substantial contributions in the areas of education reform, education management, and public administration.

Professor Ji is well known in his research fields. He was one of the pioneers who first introduced western marketing theories to China. The book "Introduction to Marketing", which he both contributed to and edited, was the first book to be awarded the National Prize in the field of Marketing Studies. Another book, "Commodity Circulation", won first prize in the "outstanding teaching materials'competition held by the Domestic Trade Ministry. Yet another book, Studies on Market Order under Transitional Economics, was given great public recognition when it won the Sun Yefang Prize in Economics.

In addition to those seminal works Professor Ji has further contributed to the academic world with substantive monographs such as Theory of Commercial Activities; For the Development and Prosperity of Humanities and Social Science; Higher Education at the Turn of the New Century—Planning, Systems, and Development; Thinking of Governance in Ancient China. To date he has published 23 books and more than 200 papers in over 30 periodicals and newspapers.

Professor Ji is currently beginning his second term as President of Renmin University. Appointed in 2000, he has been leading the University towards its goal of being a world-renowned, first-class university, and for his efforts he is recognized as one of the leaders in the Chinese higher education sector. He is a member of the Academic Degree Committee of the State Council, a member of the Appraisal of Disciplines Group, a deputy to the Tenth National People's Congress, Deputy Director of the All-China MPA Supervisory Committee, Vice Chairman of the Market Association of China, and Vice President of the National Education Association for International Exchanges. Before becoming President of the RUC, Professor Ji served the University as the Registrar in the 1990s. In a distinguished career he has also held, inter alia, the following positions, Director of the Education Department of the Ministry of Commerce, Director of the Education Division of the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Director of the Higher Education Division of the State Education Commission, Director of the Planning and Construction Division, and Director of the Development and Planning Division of the Ministry of Education. His professionalism and leadership is clearly recognized in the special allowance he receives from the State Council.

Professor Ji has been named as an honorary professor in over 20 eminent universities and colleges both at home and abroad, and granted honorary doctorates from Soka University in Japan, and Pukyong National University in South Korea.