ear terms; elections last held 16-18 March 1998 (next to be
held NA March 2003); premier nominated by the president, confirmed by
the National People's Congress head of government: Premier ZHU Rongji
(since 18 March 1998); Vice Premiers QIAN Qichen (since 29 March 1993),
LI Lanqing (29 March 1993), WU Bangguo (since 17 March 1995), and WEN
Jiabao (since 18 March 1998) cabinet: State Council appointed by the
National People's Congress (NPC) election results: JIANG Zemin reelected
president by the Ninth National People's Congress with a total of 2,882
votes (36 delegates voted against him, 29 abstained, and 32 did not
vote); HU Jintao elected vice president by the Ninth National People's
Congress with a total of 2,841 votes (67 delegates voted against him,
39 abstained, and 32 did not vote)

Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo
Renmin Daibiao Dahui (2,979 seats; members elected by municipal, regional,
and provincial people's congresses to serve five-year terms) elections:
last held NA December 1997-NA February 1998 (next to be held late 2002-NA
March 2003) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - NA

Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court (judges appointed by the National
People's Congress); Local Peoples Courts (comprise higher, intermediate
and local courts); Special Peoples Courts (primarily military, maritime,
and railway transport courts)

Political parties and leaders: Chinese Communist Party or CCP [JIANG
Zemin, General Secretary of the Central Committee]; eight registered
small parties controlled by CCP

Political pressure groups and leaders: no substantial political
opposition groups exist, although the government has identified the
Falungong sect and the China Democracy Party as potential rivals

International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, ARF (dialogue
partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, CCC, CDB, ESCAP, FAO,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MINURSO,
MONUC, NAM (observer), OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMSIL,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMOVIC,
UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador YANG
Jiechi consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York,
and San Francisco FAX: [1] (202) 328-2582 telephone: [1] (202) 328-2500