All the presidents of China: from Comrade Mao to Comrade Xi

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:42

We are all used to the fact that in the People's Republic of China the head of state is the President of the People's Republic of China, as they always write in the official chronicle in Russian. But not everything is so simple: it turns out that the traditional title of this post in Chinese is translated into Western languages (for example, English) as the President of the PRC. So the Chinese decided in 1982.

The first head of China

At the beginning of the twentieth century, after the defeat in the war with Japan, there was a significant weakening of the central power of the Qing Empire. In 1911, the Republic of China was founded, which included a large part of mainland China, the island of Taiwan and Mongolia. The main contender for the presidency was Yuan Shikai, the first minister of the Qing Empire. However, as a result of intrigues, Sun Yat-sen, the founder of the Kuomintang Party, one of the most revered politicians in China, was elected the first president of China.

After the defeat of the Kuomintang in the Civil War, the Republic of China managed to defend only the island of Taiwan. And on the territorymainland China, the People's Republic of China was founded. The actual first president of the PRC was Mao Zedong, then his position was called the Chairman of the Central People's Government of the PRC. In 1954, with the adoption of the PRC constitution, the position of Chairman was established, which Mao took.

First President

In 1982, the country adopted a new version of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, where the position of the Chairman of the People's Republic of China was restored. For the previous seven years, the head of state was the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. For the first time, the position of a formal head of state, which was translated into all languages (including Russian) as chairman, began to be translated into English as president (president).

So Li Xiannian, who held this post from 1983 to 1988, can also be considered the first official president of the PRC. He was one of the "eight immortal CCPs" - a group of the country's most influential senior leaders of the older generation, who actually decided all issues of the country's political and economic life in the 80-90s of the last century.

Of course, for quite a long period the Chairman of the Central Military Council of the CPC Central Committee was the actual head of state and party. Moreover, during these years, the position was held by Deng Xiaoping, who led China from the 70s to the 90s.

Tiananmen time

The next formal president of the PRC (chairman) was Yang Shangkun, who was also one of the "eightimmortal high-ranking officials". He served as chairman of the PRC from 1988 to 1993. The decline of his career is associated with the suppression of student protests on Tiananmen Square, when he supported the tough position of Deng Xiaoping. In the early 90s, Goth was removed from his post as a result of a conflict with the new head of state (CPC Military Council Chairman) Jiang Zemin, who soon took over the vacant post.

Yang became the last Chairman of the People's Republic of China, who actually had the powers of the Vice-President of the People's Republic of China. All subsequent leaders of China held two of the highest posts of the state at the same time.

Continuation of market reforms

Jiang Zemin became President of the People's Republic of China in 1993. At first, he was considered as a transitional figure. However, he soon strengthened his position in the army, government and party. Experts noted that he occupied almost all party and military posts. All key issues of international and domestic life were resolved only with his direct participation.

Zemin continued the economic reforms initiated by Deng Xiaoping. Under him, the country became the seventh in the world in terms of GDP. China has made significant efforts to strengthen its influence in the Asia-Pacific region. And, perhaps, the most significant achievement of the President of the PRC was the introduction of changes in the party program. He succeeded in equalizing the political rights of the intelligentsia with the workers and peasants and opened the way to the party for the Chinesebusinessmen.

Toward socialism with Chinese characteristics

The next leader of China was Hu Jintao, who served as chairman of the PRC for ten years (2003-2013). He became the youngest Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. The new president of the People's Republic of China continued the policy of broad economic liberalization, which was combined with strict party control and the suppression of any infringement on the role of the Communist Party.

The main efforts were aimed at strengthening China's status as an economic superpower. In 2008, Hu was re-elected for a second term, with Xi Jinping as his deputy and intended successor. In 2011, the country overtook Japan in terms of GDP, becoming the second most powerful power in the world. The foreign policy course remained moderate, China tried to stay equidistant from the US and the European Union.

Present

In March 2013, Xi Jinping took office as President of the People's Republic of China. Many experts believe that he can be on a par with the great Chinese communists with absolute authority - Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping in terms of the degree of influence on the country. Comrade Xi's contribution to the theory and practice of the Communist Party was the idea of building socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new historical era. The current socio-economic course of the country is based on the concept of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, proposed by him.

Now the President of the People's Republic of China directs significant efforts to fight corruption, strengthen party discipline and ensure the unity of all layerspopulation around the CCP.