Political outline

Current political leaders

General Secretary of the Communist Party: Xi Jinping
President: Xi Jinping (since 14 March 2013)
Vice President: Han Zheng (since 10 March 2023)
Head of government and leader of the State Council: Li Qiang (since 11 March 2023)

Next election dates

Presidential: March 2028
National People's Congress: March 2028

Current Political Context

Overall, the political situation in China has been stable, with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) firmly in power. China's current leader, Xi Jinping, holds a triple title as CCP general secretary, Central Military Commission chairman and state president. After assuming these functions in 2012-13, he was reappointed to them in 2017-18 and then again in 2022.
In the political sphere, 2023 was characterized by the National People’s Congress in March, during which the long-anticipated retirement of Li Keqiang as premier occurred, succeeded by Li Qiang. Li Qiang, former party secretary of Shanghai and a longstanding associate of President Xi Jinping, assumed the premier role, helping Xi  consolidate his power and influence.
Throughout 2023, China's international relations were shaped by several key events, including Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine, heightened tensions with the United States, the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, and Israel's subsequent response. While China maintained rhetorical support for Russia, it refrained from direct involvement, opting instead to issue a relatively mild peace proposal in February.

Main political parties

The only political party in the country is the CCP (Chinese Communist Party). There are eight other registered small parties, but they remain under control of the CCP.

Executive Power

The Chinese executive is supervised by the State Council (a collegial body equipped with important powers and appointed by the National People's Congress) under which are Government commissions, ministries and other organisations with the rank of a ministry. According to the Constitution, the Council is 'the Supreme Administrative Body' of the Chinese Government, even if the majority of important measures are decided by the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The Council thus plays an important role in the economic domain.
The president is the head of state and is elected by the National People's Assembly. In general, he is also the general secretary of the Communist Party. He represents China in international institutions. The prime minister directs and controls government action, assisted by four deputy prime ministers. The State Council also includes 5 state councillors, who, like deputy prime ministers, have jurisdiction over several ministerial departments or commissions. The Secretary General of the Government is also a member of the State Council.

Legislative Power

The legislature is monocameral, composed of the National People's Congress (NPC). It is known as a 'Body of Supreme Power of the Government' and meets once per year in a plenary session. There are approximately 3,000 designated deputies elected to the NPC every five years by indirect vote of local bodies. Since the 1980s, it has been dominated by local or sectional interests. Deputies are the representatives of 23 provinces, five areas and four autonomous municipalities. The NPC comprises a delegation of the People's Liberation Army. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress is appointed by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Party. It sits instead of the NPC during its recess and exercises all its powers. It is composed of a president, 15 vice-presidents and 176 permanent members. The Standing Committee sits regularly, but it is the Bureau of the NPC which exerts its functions on a daily basis. Eligibility is controlled by the CCP, which also has a right to supervise the appointment of the executives and the senior officials of different administrative units.

Indicator of freedom of the press

World Rank:

177/180

Indicator of political freedom

Political freedom:

7/7

Font: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House