He served in prominent leadership positions in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) after 1999, including Director of the General Office of the CCP and Secretary of the Secretariat.

Wang was born in Fuyu County, Jilin Province, and graduated from the department of philosophy of Jilin University in 1967.

Between 1977 and 1981 he served on the administrative staff of the Communist Party's regional committee in Xinjiang.

Between 1981 and 1985 he was a secretary in the Communist Party's office on managing relations with Taiwan.

Between 2008 and 2013 Wang served as one of the Vice Chairmen of the 11th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and the secretary of a working committee of organs directly affiliated with the Central Committee of the CCP.