Style Mr. Vice Premier (副总理) | Residence Zhongnanhai | |
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Reports to the Premier of the State Council Nominator the Premier of the State Council Appointer the President, according to the decision of the National People's Congress Term length five years, renewable once consecutively | ||
The Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China (simplified Chinese: 中华人民共和国国务院副总理; traditional Chinese: 中華人民共和國國務院副總理; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Guówùyuàn Fùzǒnglǐ) is a high-ranking executive assistant to the Premier. Generally, the title is held by multiple individuals at one time, with each Vice Premier holding a broad portfolio of responsibilities. The highest-ranked office holder is informally called the First-ranked Vice Premier (Senior Vice Premier). The 1st-ranked VP takes over duties of the Premier at the time of the latter's incapacity.
Current Vice Premiers, in order of rank, are Zhang Gaoli, Liu Yandong, Wang Yang and Ma Kai.
In irregular instances, the position of a Senior Vice Premier (第一副总理) has been named either to indicate degree of power, nominal power, or when the Premier is incapacitated and requires a full-time assistant to carry out his regular duties. The most prominent case of this is Deng Xiaoping between 1978 and 1980.