al or pressure groups:
such meaningful opposition as exists consists of loose coalitions, usually
within the party and government organization, that vary by issue
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
National People's Congress:
last held March 1993 (next to be held March 1998); results - CCP is the only
party but there are also independents; seats - (2,977 total) (elected at
county or xian level)
President:
last held 27 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - JIANG Zemin was
nominally elected by the Eighth National People's Congress
Executive branch:
president, vice president, premier, four vice premiers, State Council

*China, Government

Legislative branch:
unicameral National People's Congress (Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui)
Judicial branch:
Supreme People's Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993); Vice President RONG Yiren
(since 27 March 1993)
Chief of State and Head of Government (de facto):
DENG Xiaoping (since NA 1977)
Head of Government:
Premier LI Peng (Acting Premier since 24 November 1987, Premier since 9
April 1988) Vice Premier ZHU Rongji (since 8 April 1991); Vice Premier ZOU
Jiahua (since 8 April 1991); Vice Premier QIAN Qichen (since 29 March 1993);
Vice Premier LI Lanqing (29 March 1993)
Member of:
AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM
(observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UN Security
Council, UNTAC, UNTSO, UN Trusteeship Council, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador LI Daoyu
chancery:
2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 328-2500 through 2502
consulates general:
Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador J. Stapleton ROY
embassy:
Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, Beijing
mailing address:
100600, PSC 461, Box 50, Beijing or FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone:
[86] (1) 532-3831
FAX:
[86] (1) 532-3178
consulates general:
Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang
Flag:
red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow
five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the
flag) in the upper hoist-side corner

*China, Economy

Overview:
Beginning in