Capital:Beijing
Administrative divisions:
23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions*
(zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 3 municipalities** (shi, singular
and plural); Anhui, Beijing Shi**, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi*,
Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu,
Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol*, Ningxia*, Qinghai, Shaanxi,
Shandong, Shanghai Shi**, Shanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin Shi**, Xinjiang*,
Xizang* (Tibet), Yunnan, Zhejiang
note:
China considers Taiwan its 23rd province
Independence:
221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty 221 BC; Qing or
Ch'ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12 February 1912; People's
Republic established 1 October 1949)
National holiday:
National Day, 1 October (1949)
Constitution:
most recent promulgated 4 December 1982
Legal system:
a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely criminal law;
rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987; new legal codes
in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts are being made to
improve civil, administrative, criminal, and commercial law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993); Vice President RONG Yiren
(since 27 March 1993); election last held 27 March 1993 (next to be
held NA 1998); results - JIANG Zemin was nominally elected by the
Eighth National People's Congress
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)
cabinet:
State Council; containing 28 ministers and 8 state commissions and
appointed by the National People's Congress (March 1993)
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National People's Congress:
(Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui) elections 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)
Judicial branch:
Supreme People's Court
Political parties and leaders:
Chinese Communist Party (CCP), JIANG Zemin, general secretary of the
Central Committee (since 24 June 1989); eight registered small parties
controlled by CCP
Other political or pressure groups:
such meaningful opposition as exists consists of loose coalitions,
usually within the party and government organization, that vary by
issue
Member of:
AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, 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
consulate(s) 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
consulate(s) 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 late 1978 the Chinese leadership has been
