List of leaders of the People's Republic of China explained

List of leaders of the People's Republic of China should not be confused with List of leaders of the Republic of China.

This is a list of leaders of the People's Republic of China's Government institutions. Each institution of China is headed by a chairperson or secretary, with some being more prominent than others. The paramount leader holds the highest authority of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Government of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Paramount leader

General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party
width=100pxInstitutionCCP Central CommitteeThe General Secretary is the highest-ranking official within the Chinese Communist Party, a standing member of the Politburo and head of the Secretariat. Post holders are usually the de facto leaders of the People's Republic of China. Currently, the General Secretary holds the authority of Paramount leader in China. Because China is a single-party state, the General Secretary holds the highest political position in the PRC and thus constitutes the most powerful position in China's government.
Current holderXi Jinping
BirthplaceBeijing
ConstituencyGuangxi at-large
Since15 November 2012

State leaders

President of the People's Republic of China
width=100pxInstitutionPresidencyThe President is legally China's head of state; he is responsible for China's image. The office is largely ceremonial, so the president cannot intervene directly in matters of the State Council. He, therefore, holds minor responsibilities such as greeting foreign dignitaries and signing the appointment of embassy staff. This position can be held whilst holding others.
Current holderXi Jinping
BirthplaceBeijing, China
ConstituencyJiangsu at-large
Since14 March 2013
Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China
width=100pxInstitutionState CouncilThe Premier is the highest administrative position in the Government of the People's Republic of China. The Premier is responsible for organizing and administering the Chinese civil bureaucracy. This includes overseeing the various ministries, departments, commissions and statutory agencies and announcing their candidacies to the National People's Congress for Vice Premiers, State Councillors and ministry offices.
Current holderLi Qiang
BirthplaceRui'an, Zhejiang
ConstituencyYunnan at-large
Since11 March 2023
Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
width=100pxInstitutionNPCThe Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress presides over the plenary of Congress. The Chairman also chairs the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress as well as representing the speaker of Congress.
Current holderZhao Leji
BirthplaceXining, Qinghai
ConstituencySichuan at-large
Since10 March 2023
Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
width=100pxInstitutionCPPCCThe Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference oversees the Conference. In practice, its role and powers are somewhat analogous to a speaker of a legislative upper house, and there have been occasional proposals to formalize this role in the PRC Constitution.
Current holderWang Huning
BirthplaceShanghai
ConstituencyGuizhou at-large
Since10 March 2023
Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China
width=100pxInstitutionPLAThe Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China directs the armed forces of the country according to the Constitution.
Current holderXi Jinping
BirthplaceBeijing, China
ConstituencyJiangsu At-large
Since14 March 2013
President of the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China
width=100pxInstitutionSPCThe President of the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China oversees the highest court in the mainland area of the People's Republic of China, not including Hong Kong or Macau.
Current holderZhang Jun
BirthplaceBoxing County, Shandong
ConstituencyHebei at-large
Since11 March 2023
Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate
width=100pxInstitutionSupreme People's ProcuratorateThe Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate of the People's Republic of China oversee the highest agency at the national level responsible for both prosecution and investigation in the People's Republic of China.
Current holderYing Yong
BirthplaceXianju County, Zhejiang
ConstituencyAnhui at-large
Since11 March 2023
Director of the National Supervisory Commission
width=100pxInstitutionNational Supervisory CommissionThe Director of the National Supervisory Commission of the People's Republic of China oversee the highest agency at the national level responsible for supervision and anti-corruption
Current holderLiu Jinguo
BirthplaceChangli County, Hebei
ConstituencyNingxia at-large
Since11 March 2023

Other important institutions

Vice President of the People's Republic of China
width=100pxInstitutionPresidencyThe Vice President's duties include assisting the President and replacing him should he resign or die in office. In reality, the position of the Vice President is basically ceremonial, and only until Hu Jintao, recent vice presidents have been members of the Politburo Standing Committee, China's main decision makers.
Current holderHan Zheng
BirthplaceShanghai
ConstituencyShandong at-large
Since10 March 2023

Historic office holders

YearPresidentNPCSC ChairmanPremierNC CPPCC ChairmanCCP CMC ChairmanSPC PresidentSPP Procurators-General
1949bgcolor=#aaabbaa rowspan=5 bgcolor=#aaaaa rowspan=5 1: Zhou Enlai1: Mao Zedongbgcolor=#aaaaa rowspan=5 1: Shen Junru1: Luo Ronghuan
1950
1951
1952
1953
19541: Mao Zedong1: Liu Shaoqi1: Mao Zedong2: Dong Biwu2: Zhang Dingcheng
19552: Zhou Enlai
1956
1957
1958
19593: Xie Juezai
19602: Liu Shaoqi2: Zhu De
1961
1962
1963
1964
19654: Yang Xiufeng
1966
1967
1968
19692½: Song Qingling
& Dong Biwu (acting)
1970
1971
1972
19732½: Dong Biwu
(acting)
1974
19755: Jiang Huabgcolor=#aaaa rowspan=3 
1976bgcolor=#cccccc rowspan=5Abolition2½: Song Qingling
(acting)
2: Hua Guofengbgcolor=#aaaaa rowspan=2 2: Hua Guofeng
1977
19783: Ye Jianying3: Deng Xiaoping3: Huang Huoqing
1979
1980
19812½: Song Qingling
(honorary)
3: Zhao Ziyang3: Deng Xiaoping
1982bgcolor=#aaaaaa rowspan=1 
19833: Li Xiannian4: Peng Zhen3: Deng Yingchao6: Zheng Tianxiang4: Yang Yichen
1984
1985
1986
1987
19884: Yang Shangkun5: Wan Li4: Li Peng5: Li Xiannian7: Ren Jianxin5: Liu Fuzhi
19894: Jiang Zemin
1990
1991
1992bgcolor=#aaaaaa rowspan=1 
19935: Jiang Zemin6: Qiao Shi6: Li Ruihuan6: Zhang Siqing
1994
1995
1996
1997
19987: Li Peng5: Zhu Rongji8: Xiao Yang7: Han Zhubin
1999
2000
2001
2002
20036: Hu Jintao8: Wu Bangguo6: Wen Jiabao6: Jia Qinglin8: Jia Chunwang
20045: Hu Jintao
2005
2006
2007
20089: Wang Shengjun9: Cao Jianming
2009
2010
2011
20126: Xi Jinping
20137: Xi Jinping9: Zhang Dejiang7: Li Keqiang7: Yu Zhengsheng10: Zhou Qiang
2014
2015
2016
2017
201810: Li Zhanshu7: Wang Yang10: Zhang Jun
2019
2020
2021
2022
202311: Zhao Leji8: Li Qiang8: Wang Huning11: Zhang Jun11: Ying Yong
2024

See also