In the 1990s, he graduated from the joint combat commander training program of the PLA National Defence University.

He also studied at the graduate school of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and holds a doctoral degree.

[3][4] Liu attained the rank of lieutenant general (zhongjiang) in July 2014, and was promoted to Political Commissar of the Lanzhou Military Region in December 2014, replacing Miao Hua, who had been promoted to Political Commissar of the PLA Navy.

Major General Li Wei succeeded Liu as Political Commissar of the Xinjiang MD.

[1][2] In December 2015, he was made the inaugural Political Commissar of People's Liberation Army Ground Force.