She graduated from Jilin University with a degree in economics, and went on to receive her doctorate and conduct research in the same field.

She was chairperson and party secretary of the National Population and Family Planning Commission (2008–2011).

[2] She is only the fourth woman to assume the Governorship of a provincial level division in China, following Gu Xiulian, Uyunqimg and Song Xiuyan.

In August 2007, she became the deputy chairperson and party secretary of the National Population and Family Planning Commission.

[3] Li was a member of the 17th and 18th, also 19th Central Committees of the Chinese Communist Party.