[1] He also served as chairperson of the Education, Science, Health and Sports Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference from 2008 to 2013.

[4] After the Reform and Opening Up in 1979, he was sent to study at Stockholm University on government scholarships,[5] and returned to China in 1981.

He was appointed director of the Institute of Remote Sensing Applications, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in February 1993, and was elevated to vice president in August 1994.

[5] Xu got involved in politics in 1995, when he was chosen as deputy director of the National Technical Committee.

[5] Xu married Yu Dongjie (裕东洁), the couple have a son and a daughter.