Wang was born in Dandong, Liaoning, in February 1950, while his ancestral home in Rushan, Shandong.
Beginning in November 1967, he served in several posts in Heilongjiang Production and Construction Corps, including soldier, accountant, clerical officer, officer of the political department of a regiment, a company instructor, and a member of the party committee of a regiment.
After resuming the college entrance examination, in 1978, Wang entered Peking University, majoring in philosophy.
[2][3] He also served as president of the newly founded University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences from May 2017 to March 2018.
In March 2018, he was made chairperson of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.