Myanmar's top leader, Senior General Than Shwe, will pay a state visit to China on Sept. 7-11 at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao. The chairman of Myanmar's State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) was born on Feb. 2, 1933, in a town in Mandalay Province. Since his graduation from an officer training program, he has been serving in the armed forces. In December 1989, Than Shwe became deputy commander-in-chief of the armed forces and commander of the Army. In March 1990, he took up the post of vice chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). In 1992, he started serving as SLORC chairman, premier, commander-in-chief and defense minister. After the SLORC evolved into the SPDC in 1997, he served as SPDC chairman, premier, commander-in-chief and defense minister. In August 2003, he resigned the premiership. Than Shwe visited China in 1996 and 2003, respectively as SLORC chairman and SPDC chairman. His wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing is honored patron of Myanmar Women's Affairs Federation. 