Premier of China

Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China
中华人民共和国国务院总理
Incumbent
Li Qiang
since 11 March 2023
State Council of the People's Republic of China
StyleComrade (同志)
(formal)
His Excellency (阁下)
(diplomatic)
TypeHead of government
StatusNational leader level official
Member of
  • Plenary Meeting of the State Council
  • Executive Meeting of the State Council
Reports toNational People's Congress and its Standing Committee
ResidencePremier's Office, Zhongnanhai, Beijing
SeatBeijing
NominatorPresident
(chosen within the Chinese Communist Party)
AppointerNational People's Congress
Term lengthFive years, renewable once consecutively
Constituting instrumentConstitution of China
PrecursorPremier of the Government Administration Council of the Central People's Government
Inaugural holderYikuang (Qing dynasty)
Zhou Enlai (current form)
Formation8 May 1911; 113 years ago (1911-05-08) (Premier of the Imperial Cabinet)
12 March 1912; 112 years ago (1912-03-12) (Republican era)
1 October 1949; 75 years ago (1949-10-01) (Premier of the Government Administration Council of the Central People's Government)
27 September 1954; 70 years ago (1954-09-27) (Premier of the State Council)
Unofficial namesPrime Minister
DeputyVice Premier
State councillor
SalaryCN¥150,000 per annum est. (2015)[1]
Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China
Simplified Chinese中华人民共和国国务院总理
Traditional Chinese中華人民共和國國務院總理
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Guówùyuàn Zǒnglǐ
Alternative Chinese name
Simplified Chinese国务院总理
Traditional Chinese國務院總理
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinGuówùyuàn Zǒnglǐ

The premier of China, officially the premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, is the head of government of the People's Republic of China and leader of the State Council. This post was established in 1911 near the end of the Qing dynasty, but the current post dates to 1954, five years after the establishment of the PRC. The premier is the second-highest ranking person in China's political system after the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (paramount leader)/president (state representative), and holds the highest rank in the civil service of the central government.

The premier presides over the plenary and executive meetings of the State Council, and assumes overall leadership over the State Council's work. The premier also signs administrative regulations passed by the State Council and signs the orders approving the appointment and removal of deputy-ministerial level officials of the State Council, as well as chief executives of Hong Kong and Macau. The premier is assisted by four vice premiers and state councillors in their duties. In China's political system, the premier has generally thought to be the one responsible for managing the economy.

The premier is constitutionally elected by the National People's Congress (NPC), and responsible to it and its Standing Committee. The premier serves for a five-year term, renewable once consecutively. Every premier has been a member of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee since the PRC's founding in 1949, except during brief transition periods. The incumbent premier is Li Qiang, who took office on 11 March 2023, succeeding Li Keqiang.

  1. ^ Luo, Wangshu (2015-01-20). "Public Employees Get Salary Increase". China Daily. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.