President of the People 's Republic of China - wikipedia President of the People 's Republic of China For the president of Taiwan, formally the Republic of China, see President of the Republic of China. For the de facto leader of China, see Paramount leader. `` President of the PRC '' redirects here. For the leader of Guernsey, see President of the Policy and Resources Committee. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( November 2009 ) President of the People 's Republic of China 中华 人民 共和国 主席 Emblem of the People 's Republic of China Incumbent Xi Jinping since 14 March 2013 Style Mr. President ( 主席 ) ( Formal ) His Excellency ( 阁下 ) ( In international correspondence ) Type nominal figurehead Status Head of State Residence Zhongnanhai ( informal ) Seat Beijing Nominator the Presidium of the National People 's Congress Appointer the National People 's Congress Term length Five Years, renewable once consecutively Constituting instrument Constitution of the People 's Republic of China Inaugural holder Mao Zedong Li Xiannian Formation 27 September 1954 18 June 1983 Abolished January 1975 - December 1982 Deputy Vice President Website Presidency President of the People 's Republic of China Simplified Chinese 中华 人民 共和国 主席 Traditional Chinese 中華 人民 共和國 主席 Literal meaning Chinese People Republic Chairperson Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Zhǔxí Alternative Chinese name Simplified Chinese 国家 主席 Traditional Chinese 國家 主席 Literal meaning State Chairperson Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Guójiā Zhǔxí This article contains Chinese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters. The President of the People 's Republic of China is the head of state of the People 's Republic of China ( PRC ). Under the PRC 's constitution, the presidency is a largely ceremonial office with limited powers. However, since 1993, as a matter of convention, the presidency has been held simultaneously by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, top leader in one party system. The office is officially regarded as an institution of the state rather than an administrative post ; theoretically, the President serves at the pleasure of the National People 's Congress, the legislature, and is not legally vested to take executive action on its own prerogative. The current President is Xi Jinping, who took office in March 2013. Since 1993, apart from brief periods of transition, the top leader of China simultaneously serves as the President, the head of the party, and the commander - in - chief of the military ( as Chairman of the Central Military Commission ). This individual then carries out different duties under separate titles. For example, the leader meets foreign dignitaries and receives ambassadors in his capacity as President, issues military directives as Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and upholds party rule through the office of General Secretary. The office was first established in the Constitution of the People 's Republic of China in 1954 and successively held by Mao Zedong and Liu Shaoqi. Liu fell into political disgrace during the Cultural Revolution, after which the office became vacant. The office was abolished under the Constitution of 1975, then reinstated in the Constitution of 1982, but with reduced powers. The official English - language translation of the title was `` Chairman '' ; after 1982, this translation was changed to `` President '', although the Chinese title remains unchanged. Therefore the title `` President '' in this case does not mean the same as in the United States or other Presidential systems, but rather as an approximation in terms of its power compared with parliamentary systems. The President is limited to serve up to two terms of five years each. Contents 1 Qualifications and election 2 Powers and duties 3 Political ranking 4 History 4.1 Establishment in 1954 4.2 History up to 1974 4.3 Abolition in 1975 4.4 Restoration in 1982 5 List of presidents 5.1 Timeline 5.2 Chairmen / Presidents 5.3 Other Heads of State 6 President 's Spouse 7 Statistics 8 Living former presidents 9 See also 10 Notes 11 References 12 External links Qualifications and election China This article is part of a series on the politics and government of China Leadership Leadership generations Collective leadership Paramount leader Leadership core Current leadership Xi - Li Administration National leaders President ( list ) : Xi Jinping Vice President ( list ) : Li Yuanchao Provincial leaders Communist Party History Organization National Party Congress ( 18th ) Central Committee ( 18th ) General Secretary ( list ) Xi Jinping Central Politburo ( 18th ) Standing Committee ( list ) Central Secretariat Top - ranked secretary : Liu Yunshan Central Military Commission Chairman : Xi Jinping Vice Chairmen : Fan Changlong, Xu Qiliang National Security Commission Chairman : Xi Jinping Central Commission for Discipline Inspection ( 18th ) Standing Committee ( 18th ) Secretary : Wang Qishan Ideology Marxism -- Leninism Maoism ( `` Mao Zedong Thought '' ) Socialism with Chinese characteristics Deng Xiaoping Theory Primary stage of socialism Four Cardinal Principles Three Represents Scientific Outlook on Development Harmonious Socialist Society Chinese Dream Four Comprehensives Constitution Law Constitution Current constitution ( 1982 ) Previous constitutions 1954 1978 `` People 's democratic dictatorship '' Laws Statutes Legislative National People 's Congress ( 12th ) Members Presidium Standing Committee Chairman : Zhang Dejiang Executive State Council ( Li 's Government ) Premier ( list ) : Li Keqiang Vice Premiers ( list ) Zhang Gaoli Liu Yandong Wang Yang Ma Kai State Councilors Secretary - General Deputy Secretary - General United Front Political Consultative Conference National Committee Chairman : Yu Zhengsheng Political parties Military Central Military Commission Chairman : Xi Jinping Vice Chairmen : Fan Changlong, Xu Qiliang People 's Liberation Army People 's Armed Police Force State Council National Mobilization Commission Chairman : Li Keqiang Ministry of National Defense Minister : Chang Wanquan People 's Armed Police Force National Security Commission Chairman : Xi Jinping Judiciary Central Politics and Law Commission Secretary : Meng Jianzhu Supreme People 's Court President : Zhou Qiang Supreme People 's Procuratorate Procurator - General : Cao Jianming Publicity Leading Group for Propaganda Central Guidance Commission for Building Spiritual Civilization Chairman : Liu Yunshan Propaganda Department Head : Liu Qibao Foreign relations Foreign aid program China and the United Nations China -- United States relations Related topics Administrative divisions Politics of Hong Kong Politics of Macau Elections Human rights Internet Internet censorship Other countries Atlas According to the current Constitution of the People 's Republic of China, the President must be a Chinese citizen with full electoral rights who has reached the age of 45. The President 's term of office is the same as the term of the National People 's Congress ( currently five years ), and the president and vice-president are both limited to two consecutive terms. The President is elected by the National People 's Congress ( NPC ), China 's highest state body, which also has the power to remove the President and other state officers from office. Elections and removals are decided by a simple majority vote. According to the Organic Law of the NPC, the President is nominated by the NPC Presidium, the Congress 's executive organ. In practice, however, the ruling Communist Party of China reserves the post of President for its current General Secretary. Like all officers of state elected by the NPC, the President is elected from a one name ballot. In the event that the office of President falls vacant, the Vice-President succeeds to the office. In the event that both offices fall vacant, the Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee temporarily acts as President until the NPC can elect a new President and Vice-President. Powers and duties Under the current Constitution of the People 's Republic of China, instated in 1982 with minor revisions in later years, the President has the power to promulgate laws, select and dismiss the Premier ( prime minister ) as well as the ministers of the State Council, grant presidential pardons, declares a state of emergency, issue mass mobilization orders, and issue state honours. In addition, the President names and dismisses ambassadors to foreign countries, signs and annuls treaties with foreign entities. According to the Constitution, all of these powers require the approval or confirmation of the National People 's Congress. The President also conducts state visits on behalf of the People 's Republic. Under the constitution the `` state visit '' clause is the only presidential power that does not stipulate any form of oversight from the National People 's Congress. As the vast majority of presidential powers are dependent on the ratification of the NPC, the President is, in essence, a symbolic post without any direct say in the governance of state. It is therefore conceived to mainly function as an symbolic institution of the state rather than an office with true executive powers. In theory, the President has discretion over the selection of the Premier, though in practice the Premier has historically been selected through the top - level discussions of the Communist Party of China. Upon the nomination of the Premier, the NPC convenes to confirm the nomination, but since only one name is on the ballot, it can only approve or reject. To date, it has never rejected a personnel nomination. Since the Premier, the head of government in China, is the most important political appointment in the Chinese government, the nomination power, under some circumstances, may give the President real political influence. Political ranking Main article : Orders of precedence in the People 's Republic of China For President Liu Shaoqi, he was also the first Vice Chairman of the Communist Party of China, ranked second in the Communist Party of China, behind Chairman Mao Zedong. For President Li Xiannian, he was also the 5th ranked member of the Politburo Standing Committee, after CPC General Secretary and Premier. For President Yang Shangkun, he was not a member of Politburo Standing Committee, but he ranked third after General Secretary Zhao Ziyang and Deng Xiaoping. Since Jiang Zemin, the President is also the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, ranking first in Party and State. History Establishment in 1954 The office of State Chairman ( the original English translation, as noted above ) was first established under China 's 1954 Constitution. The ceremonial powers of the office were largely identical to those in the current Constitution. The powers of the 1954 office differed from those of the current office in two areas : military and governmental. The State Chairman 's military powers were defined in the 1954 Constitution as follows : `` The Chairman of the People 's Republic of China commands the armed forces of the state, and is Chairman of the National Defence Council ( Chinese : 国防 委员会 ). '' The National Defence Council was unique to the 1954 Constitution, and was mandated as the civil command for the People 's Liberation Army. It was abolished under the 1975 Constitution. The State Chairman 's governmental powers were defined in the 1954 Constitution as follows : `` The Chairman of the People 's Republic of China, whenever necessary, convenes a Supreme State Conference ( Chinese : 最高 国务 会议 ) and acts as its chairman. '' The members of the Supreme State Conference included the main officers of state, and its views were to be presented to the main organs of state and government, including the National People 's Congress and the State and National Defense Councils. The Supreme State Conference was also unique to the 1954 Constitution. It was abolished under the 1975 Constitution and later Constitutions have not included a similar body. History up to 1974 Mao Zedong was the first to hold the office of State Chairman. He was elected at the founding session of the National People 's Congress in 1955. At the 2nd NPC in 1959, Mao was succeeded by Liu Shaoqi, first Vice Chairman of the Communist Party. Liu was reelected as State Chairman at the 3rd NPC in Jan 1965. However, in 1966, Mao launched the Cultural Revolution and by August 1966 Mao and his supporters succeeding in removing Liu from his position as party Vice Chairman. A few months later Liu was apparently placed under house arrest, and after a prolonged power struggle the 12th Plenum of the 8th Communist Party Congress stripped Liu Shaoqi of all his party and non-party positions on October 31, 1968, including the post of State Chairman. This was in violation of the Constitution, which required a vote by the NPC to remove the State Chairman. From Liu 's removal in 1968 until 1972, the office of State Chairman was vacant. From 1972 to 1975, however, state media referred to Vice State Chairman Dong Biwu as `` acting State Chairman. '' Abolition in 1975 When the 4th NPC was convened in 1975, its main act was to adopt a new Constitution which eliminated the office of State Chairman and emphasized instead the leadership of the Communist Party over the state, including an article that made the Party Chairman Supreme Commander of the PLA in concurrence as Chairman of the Party CMC. The 5th NPC was convened two years early, in 1978, and a third Constitution was adopted, which also lacked the office of State Chairman. The office was finally reinstated in the fourth Constitution, adopted by the 5th Session of the 5th NPC in 1982. The title of the office ( guojia zhuxi ) was unchanged in the Chinese text, but a new English translation of `` President of the People 's Republic of China '' was adopted. Restoration in 1982 In the 1982 Constitution, the President was conceived of as a figurehead of state with actual state power resting in the hands of the General Secretary of the Communist Party and the Premier, and all three posts were designed to be held by separate people. The President therefore held minor responsibilities such as greeting foreign dignitaries and signing the appointment of embassy staff, and did not intervene in the affairs of the State Council or the Party. In the original 1982 Constitution plan, the Party would develop policy, the state would execute it, and the power would be divided to prevent a cult of personality from forming as it did with the case of Mao Zedong. Thus in 1982, China perceivably had four main leaders : Hu Yaobang, the Party General Secretary ; Zhao Ziyang, the Premier ; Li Xiannian, the President ; and Deng Xiaoping, the `` Paramount Leader '', holding title of the Chairman of the Central Military Commission and was overall commander - in - chief of the armed forces. The current political structure of Vietnam is similar to the structure China followed in the 1980s. In the 1990s, the experiment of separating party and state posts, which led to conflict during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, was terminated. In 1993, the post of President was taken by Jiang Zemin, who as General Secretary of the Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, became the undisputed top leader of the party and the state. When Jiang Zemin stepped down in 2003, the offices of General Secretary and President were once again both given to one man, then Vice-President Hu Jintao, the first Vice President to assume the office. In turn, Hu vacated both offices for Xi Jinping in 2012 and 2013. List of presidents Main article : List of Presidents of the People 's Republic of China Timeline ↓ P. of C.Gov ↓ President of China ↓ Acting Presidents ↓ Honorary President ↓ Restored Mao Zedong Liu Shaoqi Soong & Dong Dong Biwu N / A Soong Ching - ling N / A Li Xiannian Yang Shangkun Jiang Zemin Hu Jintao Xi Jinping │ 1949.83 │ 1959.83 │ 1969.83 │ 1979.83 │ 1989.83 │ 1999.83 │ 2009.83 Chairmen / Presidents Liu Shaoqi 2nd Chairman ( 27 April 1959 -- 31 October 1968 ) Dong Biwu Acting Chairman ( 24 February 1972 -- 17 January 1975 ) Song Qingling Honorary Chairwoman ( 16 May 1981 -- 28 May 1981 ) Li Xiannian 3rd President ( 18 June 1983 -- 8 April 1988 ) Yang Shangkun 4th President ( 8 April 1988 -- 27 March 1993 ) Jiang Zemin 5th President ( 27 March 1993 -- 15 March 2003 ) Hu Jintao 6th President ( 15 March 2003 -- 14 March 2013 ) Xi Jinping 7th President ( 14 March 2013 -- present ) Other Heads of State Zhu De Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People 's Congress ( 1975 -- 1976 ) Song Qingling Acting Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People 's Congress ( 1976 -- 1978 ) Ye Jianying Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People 's Congress ( 1978 -- 1983 ) President 's spouse Main article : Spouse of the President of the People 's Republic of China Since the first president, seven had a spouse during term of office. No Spouse President Tenure Jiang Qing Mao Zedong 1 October 1949 -- 27 April 1959 Wang Guangmei Liu Shaoqi 27 April 1959 -- 31 October 1968 Lin Jiamei Li Xiannian 18 June 1983 -- 8 April 1988 Li Bozhao Yang Shangkun 8 April 1988 -- 27 March 1993 5 Wang Yeping Jiang Zemin 27 March 1993 -- 15 March 2003 6 Liu Yongqing Hu Jintao 15 March 2003 -- 14 March 2013 7 Peng Liyuan Xi Jinping 14 March 2013 -- Incumbent Statistics # President Date of birth Age at ascension ( first term ) Time in office ( total ) Age at retirement ( last term ) Date of death Longevity Zedong, Mao Mao Zedong 18931226 December 26, 1893 ( December 26, 1893 ) 60 275 60 years, 275 days 04 212 4 years, 212 days 64 122 64 years, 122 days 19760909 September 9, 1976 7004302070000000000 ♠ 30,207 82 years, 258 days Shaoqi, Liu Liu Shaoqi 18981124 November 24, 1898 ( November 24, 1898 ) 60 154 60 years, 154 days 09 187 9 years, 187 days 69 342 69 years, 342 days 19691112 November 12, 1969 7004259200000000000 ♠ 25,920 70 years, 353 days Presidency vacant acting Biwu, Dong Dong Biwu 18860305 March 5, 1886 ( March 5, 1886 ) 85 356 85 years, 356 days 02 327 2 years, 327 days 88 318 88 years, 318 days 19750402 April 2, 1975 7004325340000000000 ♠ 32,534 89 years, 28 days acting Ching - ling, Soong Soong Ching - ling 18930127 January 27, 1893 ( January 27, 1893 ) 83 161 83 years, 161 days 01 242 1 years, 242 days 85 037 85 years, 37 days 19810529 May 29, 1981 7004322630000000000 ♠ 32,263 88 years, 122 days Presidency abolished Xiannian, Li Li Xiannian 19090623 June 23, 1909 ( June 23, 1909 ) 73 360 73 years, 360 days 04 295 4 years, 295 days 78 290 78 years, 290 days 19920621 June 21, 1992 7004303140000000000 ♠ 30,314 82 years, 364 days Shangkun, Yang Yang Shangkun 19070803 August 3, 1907 ( August 3, 1907 ) 80 250 80 years, 250 days 04 352 4 years, 352 days 85 236 85 years, 236 days 19980914 September 14, 1998 7004332800000000000 ♠ 33,280 91 years, 42 days 5 Zemin, Jiang Jiang Zemin 19260817 August 17, 1926 ( August 17, 1926 ) 66 222 66 years, 222 days 11 353 11 years, 353 days 76 210 76 years, 210 days Living 7004332720000000000 ♠ 33,272 7004332720000000000 ♠ 91 years, 34 days ( Living ) 6 Jintao, Hu Hu Jintao 19421221 December 21, 1942 ( December 21, 1942 ) 60 084 60 years, 84 days 09 364 9 years, 364 days 70 083 70 years, 83 days Living 7004273020000000000 ♠ 27,302 7004273020000000000 ♠ 74 years, 273 days ( Living ) 7 Jinping, Xi Xi Jinping 19530615 June 15, 1953 ( June 15, 1953 ) 7004218217500000000 ♠ 59 years, 272 days 7003165100000000000 ♠ 7003165100000000000 ♠ 4 years, 190 days ( Ongoing ) Incumbent Living 7004234730000000000 ♠ 23,473 7004234730000000000 ♠ 64 years, 97 days ( Living ) Living former presidents There are two living former presidents : Jiang Zemin ( 1993 -- 2003 ) ( 1926 - 08 - 17 ) August 17, 1926 ( age 91 ) Hu Jintao ( 2003 -- 2013 ) ( 1942 - 12 - 21 ) December 21, 1942 ( age 74 ) See also List of leaders of the People 's Republic of China Vice President of the People 's Republic of China Premier of the People 's Republic of China Political position ranking of the People 's Republic of China Paramount Leader List of Chinese leaders Air transports of heads of state and government Notes Jump up ^ It is listed as such in the current Constitution ; it is thus equivalent to organs such as the State Council, rather than to offices such as that of the Premier. Jump up ^ In Chinese the President of the PRC is termed zhǔxí while the Presidents of other countries are termed zǒngtǒng. Furthermore zhǔxí continues to have the meaning of `` chairman '' in a generic context. References ^ Jump up to : Krishna Kanta Handique State Open University, EXECUTIVE : THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHINESE REPUBLIC. Jump up ^ Constitution of the People 's Republic of China, Section 2, Article 79. Jump up ^ Constitution of the People 's Republic of China, Articles 62, 63. Jump up ^ `` Organic Law of the National People 's Congress of the PRC ''. Retrieved 2013 - 07 - 03., Article 13. Jump up ^ Constitution of the People 's Republic of China, Article 84. Jump up ^ Constitution of the People 's Republic of China, Article 62, Section 5. The NPC does no itself have the power to nominate the Premier. Jump up ^ Yew, Chiew Ping ; Gang Chen ( 2010 - 03 - 13 ). China 's National People 's Congress 2010 : Addressing Challenges With No Breakthrough in Legislative Assertiveness ( PDF ). Background Brief. Singapore : East Asian Institute. Retrieved 2013 - 07 - 03. Jump up ^ Weng, Byron ( September 1982 ). `` Some Key Aspects of the 1982 Draft Constitution of the People 's Republic of China ''. The China Quarterly ( 91 ) : 492 -- 506. JSTOR 653370. Jump up ^ Constitution of the People 's Republic of China, 1954, Articles 40 -- 42. Jump up ^ Constitution of the People 's Republic of China, Article 43. Jump up ^ Constitution of the People 's Republic of China, Article 44. Jump up ^ Cohen, Jerome Alan ( 1978 - 12 - 01 ). `` China 's Changing Constitution ''. The China Quarterly ( 76 ) : 794 -- 841. ISSN 0305 - 7410. JSTOR 652647. External links The President 's Official Website ( in English ) Heads of state of the People 's Republic of China Common Program ( 1949 -- 1954 ) CPG Chairman Mao Zedong 1954 Constitution ( 1954 -- 1975 ) Chairman Mao Zedong Liu Shaoqi Song Qingling and Dong Biwu ( acting ) 1975 & 1978 Constitutions ( 1975 -- 1982 ) NPCSC Chairman Zhu De Song Qingling ( acting ) Ye Jianying 1982 Constitution ( 1982 -- present ) President Li Xiannian Yang Shangkun Jiang Zemin Hu Jintao Xi Jinping Xia → Shang → Zhou → Qin → Han → 3 Kingdoms → Jìn / 16 Kingdoms → S. Dynasties / N. Dynasties → Sui → Tang → 5 Dynasties & 10 Kingdoms - Liao / Song / W. Xia / Jīn → Yuan → Ming → Qing → ROC / PRC Central state organs of the People 's Republic of China National People 's Congress NPC Standing Committee President State Council Central Military Commission Supreme People 's Court Supreme People 's Procuratorate Politics of China Constitution Laws Parties Parties Communist Party Central Committee General Secretary Central Politburo Politburo Standing Committee Central Secretariat Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Provincial party standing committee State organs National People 's Congress Standing Committee Chairman President Vice President State Council Premier Vice Premiers State Councilors Central Military Commission Chairman People 's Liberation Army People 's Armed Police People 's Political Consultative Conference National Committee Chairman Politics of province - level divisions ( current leaders ) Municipalities Beijing Chongqing Shanghai Tianjin Provinces Anhui Fujian Gansu Guangdong Guizhou Hainan Hebei Heilongjiang Henan Hubei Hunan Jiangsu Jiangxi Jilin Liaoning Qinghai Shaanxi Shandong Shanxi Sichuan Yunnan Zhejiang Autonomous regions Guangxi Inner Mongolia Ningxia Xinjiang Tibet ( leaders ) SARs Hong Kong Macau Claimed province Taiwan See also Elections Heads of state of the Group of 20 Macri Elizabeth II ( Governor - General : Cosgrove ) Temer Elizabeth II ( Governor General : Johnston ) Xi Tusk Macron Steinmeier Kovind Jokowi Mattarella Akihito Peña Nieto Putin Salman Zuma Moon Erdoğan Elizabeth II Trump Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=President_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China&oldid=797515987 '' Categories : Presidents of the People 's Republic of China Ceremonial heads of state Figurehead China politics - related lists 1954 establishments in China 1975 disestablishments 1982 establishments in China Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from November 2009 All articles needing additional references Use dmy dates from April 2015 Articles containing simplified Chinese - language text Articles containing Chinese - language text Articles containing traditional Chinese - language text Talk Contents About Wikipedia Български Català Dansk Deutsch فارسی Français 한국어 हिन्दी Italiano עברית Македонски മലയാളം Bahasa Melayu 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча Polski Português Русский Simple English Slovenščina Suomi Svenska Türkçe Українська اردو Tiếng Việt 文言 粵語 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 27 August 2017, at 14 : 55. 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Question: who is the head of the state of china
Answer: Xi Jinping