Xu joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1960.
[3] In July 1991, Xu was transferred to Beijing and appointed vice minister of light industry [zh], and held that office until May 1993, when he became vice president of China National Council of Light Industry.
[3] In July 1995, he was chosen as deputy director of the State Council Research Office, a post he kept until March 1998, when he was made deputy secretary-general of the State Council.
[3] In May 2001, Xu was dispatched to southwest China's Yunnan province and appointed deputy party secretary.
[3][5][6] In October 2006, he took office as vice chairperson of the National People's Congress Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee.