Bankers around the world are angling for a piece of China Investment Corp., the $200 billion fund the country recently launched to capitalize on its bulging foreign-currency reserves. So far, $3 billion has been committed to buy a near-10 percent chunk of the Blackstone Group. Meet the decisionmakers.

Lou Jiwei, chairman, C.I.C.

Before being named chairman of the fund, Lou, a computer programmer turned economist, was China's vice finance minister. He was one of the central government's leading economic reformers in the 1980s and later served as vice governor of Guizhou, one of the poorest provinces in the country.

Gao Xiqing, general manager, C.I.C.

After earning a law degree from Duke University, Gao landed a job at Mudge Rose Guthrie Alexander & Ferdon, the law firm (now defunct) where both Richard Nixon and Scooter Libby once practiced. Most recently, Gao helped manage China's now $50 billion-plus National Social Security Fund.

Wang Jianxi, deputy general manager, C.I.C.

Before C.I.C. was formally announced, Wang—also known as Jesse—helped manage government investments in Chinese banks. In the run-up to C.I.C.'s launch, Wang also acted as the fund's public face. In July, he appeared on Charlie Rose, reassuring American audiences that C.I.C. would have no political agenda.

Antony Leung, chairman, Blackstone Greater China

Although Leung is not a C.I.C. employee, he helped secure the fund's investment in Blackstone. In 2003, Leung resigned as Hong Kong's financial secretary in a scandal that was dubbed Lexusgate by the press. His misdeed? He bought a Lexus before a tax hike and thereby avoided paying the government $24,000.