Chairmen
1935–76	Mao Zedong
1976–81	Hua Guofeng
1981–82	Hu Yaobang
General Secretaries
1956–57	Deng Xiaoping
1980–87	Hu Yaobang
1987–89	Zhao Ziyang
1989–2002	Jiang Zemin
2002–12	Hu Jintao
2012–	Xi Jinping
De facto ruler
1978–97	Deng Xiaoping
Heads of State since 1949.
Chairman of the Central People’s Government
1949–54	Mao Zedong
Chairmen (Presidents)
1954–59	Mao Zedong
1959–68	Liu Shaoqi
1968–75	Dong Biwu
Chairmen of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress
1975–76	Zhu De
1978–83	Ye Jianying
Presidents of the Republic
1983–88	Li Xiannian
1988–93	Yang Shangkun
1993–2003	Jiang Zemin
2003–13	Hu Jintao
2013–	Xi Jinping
Prime Ministers since 1949.
1949–76	Zhou Enlai
1976–80	Hua Guofeng
1980–87	Zhao Ziyang
1987–98	Li Peng
1998–2003	Zhu Rongji
2003–13	Wen Jiabao
2013–	Li Keqiang