 Ge was born in Nantong, Jiangsu province and was a graduate of Beijing University of Science and Technology majoring in Material Science and Engineering.From July 1995 to November 1998 he served as the Board Director and Vice President of Shanghai Metallurgical Holdings.In October 2001, he became the Deputy Secretary of Chengdu Municipal Party Committee and the Mayor of Chengdu in Sichuan Province, heading the government of the Sichuan provincial capital; for most of his tenure in Chengdu, he worked under Chengdu party chief Li Chuncheng.