An automobile factory technician by trade, Wang had a long and varied political career, known for having acquired a ministerial-level position at the age of 41.

Before entering the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party in 2002, he successively served as the first secretary of the Communist Youth League of China, the chief of the party's General Office, a secretary of the Central Secretariat, the governor of Fujian, the head of the United Front Work Department and vice chairman of the CPPCC.

In his later years, he served as the head of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and as a vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

Hu, a reformer, was ousted from power by a group of conservative party elders in 1987 due to irreconcilable differences over policy.

This move was met with resistance from party elders, who saw themselves as being unfairly targeted and politically vulnerable; Wang was subsequently removed as General Office chief.

[2] It is believed that Wang's exit from the elite ranks was delicately intertwined with Hu Yaobang's downfall, as his Youth League political forces were deliberately scattered around the country to weed out their influence.

[2] Wang was named the governor of Fujian in 1987 after Hu Yaobang's resignation, in what was widely considered a demotion and 'banishment' from the political center stage in Beijing.

In 1992, he was also named the head of the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee, in charge of rallying support from organizations not affiliated with the Communist Party.

He was also elected Vice Chairperson of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in March 1993, rejoining Party and State Leadership, and reelected in 1998.