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List of state representatives of the People's Republic of China facts for kids

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The president of the People's Republic of China is a very important leader in China. This position was first created in 1954 when China set up its first official government system. Back then, the title was called State Chairman. The job of president was removed between 1975 and 1982. During that time, the leader of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress acted as the country's main representative. The role of president was brought back in 1982.

China's Top Leaders Over Time

Generations of leadership
  •       Mao Zedong's Time
  •       Deng Xiaoping's Time
  •       Jiang Zemin's Time
  •       Hu–Wen Administration
  •       Xi–Li Administration/Xi Jinping Administration

Early Leaders (1949–1954)

Chairman of the Central People's Government
Picture Name
(Years Lived)
Time in Office Other Important Leaders Main Leader
Mao Zedong 1959 (cropped)
Mao Zedong in 1959
Mao Zedong
毛泽东
(1893–1976)
1 October 1949 27 September 1954 Zhu De
Liu Shaoqi
Soong Ching-ling
Li Jishen
Zhang Lan
Gao Gang
Himself
Mao Zedong was also the leader of the Chinese Communist Party and the military. This made him the most powerful person in China.

First Presidents (1954–1975)

Chairman of the People's Republic of China
No. Picture Name
(Years Lived)
Time in Office NPC Vice Presidents Main Leader
1
Mao Zedong 1959 (cropped)
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
毛泽东
(1893–1976)
27 September 1954 27 April 1959 I Zhu De Mao Zedong
2
LiuShaoqi
Liu Shaoqi
Liu Shaoqi
刘少奇
(1898–1969)
27 April 1959 3 January 1965 II Soong Ching-ling
Dong Biwu
3 January 1965 31 October 1968 III
acting
Soong Ching-ling 1937
Soong Ching-ling
Soong Ching-ling
宋庆龄
(1893–1981)
31 October 1968 24 February 1972 III Dong Biwu
acting
DONGBIWU
Dong Biwu
Dong Biwu
董必武
(1886–1975)
24 February 1972 17 January 1975 III Soong Ching-ling

When the Presidency Was Abolished (1975–1982)

Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
Picture Name
(Years Lived)
Time in Office NPC Other Leaders Main Leader
Zhu De
Zhu De
Zhu De
朱德
(1886–1976)
17 January 1975 6 July 1976 IV Soong Ching-ling
Dong Biwu (died 2 April 1975)
and others
Mao Zedong
Soong Ching-ling 1937
Soong Ching-ling
Soong Ching-ling
宋庆龄
(1893–1981)
6 July 1976 5 March 1978 Mao Zedong
Hua Guofeng
After Zhu De passed away, Soong Ching-ling took on the role of acting Chairwoman. She was a member of a different political group called the Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang.
Ye Jianying
Ye Jianying
Ye Jianying
叶剑英
(1897–1986)
5 March 1978 18 June 1983 V Soong Ching-ling
and others
Hua Guofeng
Deng Xiaoping
Honorary Chairwoman of the People's Republic of China
Picture Name
(Years Lived)
Time in Office NPC Notes
Soong Ching-ling 1937
Soong Ching-ling
Soong Ching-ling
宋庆龄
(1893–1981)
16 May 1981 29 May 1981 V Just before she passed away, Soong Ching-ling was given the special title of Honorary Chairwoman of China.

The Presidency Returns (1983–Present)

President of the People's Republic of China
Picture Name
(Years Lived)
Time in Office NPC Vice President Main Leader
3
Li Xiannian
Li Xiannian
Li Xiannian
李先念
(1909–1992)
18 June 1983 8 April 1988 VI Ulanhu Deng Xiaoping
During Li Xiannian's time, China started to open up more to other countries. He was the first Chinese President to visit the United States and North Korea. He met with U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1984.
4
Yang Shangkun 2
Yang Shangkun
Yang Shangkun
杨尚昆
(1907–1998)
8 April 1988 27 March 1993 VII Wang Zhen Deng Xiaoping
Jiang Zemin
Yang Shangkun was a leader who had been through many changes in China's history. He supported economic changes but was against too much political freedom. He retired after facing disagreements with Jiang Zemin's leadership.
5
Jiang Zemin 2002
Jiang Zemin
Jiang Zemin
江泽民
(1926–2022)
27 March 1993 15 March 1998 VIII Rong Yiren Himself
15 March 1998 15 March 2003 IX Hu Jintao
Jiang Zemin became President in 1993. He also held other powerful roles, making him a very strong leader. Under his leadership, China grew a lot economically. He oversaw the return of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom and Macau from Portugal to China. He also improved China's relationships with other countries.
6
Hu Jintao 2012
Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao
胡锦涛
(born 1942)
15 March 2003 15 March 2008 X Zeng Qinghong Himself
15 March 2008 14 March 2013 XI Xi Jinping
Hu Jintao became President in 2003. He also led the Communist Party and the military. During his time, China's economy grew steadily, and the country became a major world power.
7
Xi Jinping with Macron and Von der Leyen 2023
Xi Jinping with other leaders
Xi Jinping
习近平
(born 1953)
14 March 2013 17 March 2018 XII Li Yuanchao Himself
17 March 2018 10 March 2023 XIII Wang Qishan
10 March 2023 Incumbent XIV Han Zheng
Xi Jinping became President in 2013. He also leads the Communist Party and the military. He has made the president's role more visible in international affairs, meeting with many world leaders. Under his leadership, China has focused on fighting corruption. In 2018, the rules about how long a president can serve were changed, removing term limits.

Timeline of Leaders

Xi Jinping Hu Jintao Jiang Zemin Yang Shangkun Li Xiannian Ye Jianying Zhu De Soong Ching-ling Dong Biwu Liu Shaoqi Mao Zedong

See also

  • List of Chinese leaders
  • Leader of the Chinese Communist Party
  • Order of precedence in China
  • Paramount leader - a informal list of those who have been considered the highest leader of the party and the People's Republic of China
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List of state representatives of the People's Republic of China Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.