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People's Republic of China - Political Leadership

See also Political System 1949-1954.

Table 1. Chairmen (Presidents)
Chairman of the Central People's Government (Renmin zhongyang zhengfu zhuxi 人民中央政府主席), since Sep 27, 1954, Chairman of the People's Republic of China (Zhonghua renmin gonghehuo zhuxi 中华人民共和国主席), since Jun 18, 1983, also called President (zongtong 总统)
Mao Zedong 毛泽东 * Oct 1, 1949-Apr 27, 1959
Liu Shaoqi 刘少奇 Apr 27, 1959-Oct 31, 1968
Dong Biwu 董必武 and
Song Qingling 宋庆龄 (f), acting
Oct 31, 1968-Feb 24, 1972
Dong Biwu, acting Feb 24, 1972-Jan 17, 1975
(position abolished) Jan 17, 1975-Dec 4, 1982
(vacant) Dec 4, 1982-Aug 16, 1983
Li Xiannian 李先念 Aug 16, 1983-Apr 8, 1988
Yang Shangkun 杨尚昆 Apr 8, 1988-Mar 27, 1993
Jiang Zemin 江泽民 * Mar 27, 1993-Mar 15, 2003
Hu Jintao 胡锦涛 * Mar 15, 2003-Mar 14, 2013
Xi Jinping 习近平 * Mar 14, 2013-

* Chairman of the CPC


Table 2. Prime Ministers
Prime Minister of the Administrative Council of the Central People's Government [of the PRC] (Zhongyang renmin zhengfu zhengwuyuan zongli 中央人民政府政务院总理), since Sep 27, 1954, Prime Minister of the State Council of the PRC (Zhonghua renmin gongheguo guowuyuan zongli 中华人民共和国国务院总理)
Zhou Enlai 周恩来 Oct 1, 1949-Jan 8, 1976
(vacant) Jan 8, 1976-Feb 2, 1976
Hua Guofeng 华国锋 * Feb 2-Apr 7, 1976 (acting)
Apr 7, 1976-Sep 10, 1980
Zhao Ziyang 赵紫阳 * Sep 10, 1980-Nov 24, 1987
Li Peng 李鹏 Nov 24, 1987-Apr 13, 1988 (acting)
Apr 13, 1988-Mar 17, 1998
Zhu Rongji 朱镕基 Mar 17, 1998-Mar 16, 2003
Wen Jiabao 温家宝 Mar 16, 2003-Mar 15, 2013
Li Keqiang 李克強 Mar 15, 2013

* Chairman of the CPC


Table 3. Chairmen of the Communist Party of China
Chairman of the Central Commitee [of the CPC] (Zhongyang weiyuanhui zhuxi 中央委员会主席), since Sep 12, 1982, General Secretary of the Central Committee [of the CPC] (Zhongyang weiyuanhui zongshuji 中央委员会总书记)
Mao Zedong 毛泽东 Jun 19, 1945-Sep 9, 1976
Hua Guofeng 华国锋 Oct 7, 1976-Jun 28, 1981
Hu Yaobang 胡耀邦 Jun 29, 1981-Jan 16, 1987
Zhao Ziyang 赵紫阳 Jan 16, 1987-Jun 23, 1989
Jiang Zemin 江泽民 Jun 24, 1989-Nov 14, 2002
Hu Jintao 胡锦涛 Nov 15, 2002-Nov 14, 2012
Xi Jinping 习近平 Nov 15, 2012-