Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China

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The Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China (国务院副总理), otherwise known as the Vice Premier of the State Council, is a high-ranking executive assistant to the Premier. There is an Executive Vice-Premier, who takes over duties of the Premier at the time of the latter's incapacity. In addition, there are numerous other Vice-Premiers who assume certain broad portfolios.

Current Vice-Premiers, in order of rank, are Wu Yi, Hui Liangyu and Zeng Peiyan. Former Executive Vice Premier Huang Ju died in June 2007. It is not known whether or not Wu Yi would assume the title, as she is now de facto first in rank.

In irregular instances, the position of an "Executive Vice-Premier" (国务院常务副总理) or "First Vice-Premier" (国务院第一副总理) 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. Notable Executive Vice-Premiers have included:

• Deng Xiaoping, during the illness of Zhou Enlai, 1973—1976, again after political rehabilitation under Premier Hua Guofeng, 1978—1983.
• Wan Li, under Premier Zhao Ziyang's second term, 1983-1988
• Yao Yilin, under Premier Li Peng's first term, 1988-1993
• Zhu Rongji, under Premier Li Peng's second term, 1993-1998
• Li Lanqing, under Premier Zhu Rongji, 1998-2003
• Huang Ju, under Premier Wen Jiabao, 2003-2007 (died in office)
• The post was vacant between Huang's death and the 2008 National People's Congress.
• Li Keqiang, under Premier Wen Jiabao, 2008-

[edit] List of Vice Premiers

      First generation       Second generation       Third generation       Fourth generation

Ordered in political position ranking

Vice Premiers	Took office	Left office	Premier	Term
Chen Yun Lin Biao Peng Dehuai Deng Xiaoping Deng Zihui He Long Chen Yi Ulanhu Li Fuchun Li Xiannian	1954	1959	Zhou Enlai	01
Chen Yun Lin Biao Peng Dehuai Deng Xiaoping Deng Zihui He Long Chen Yi Ulanhu Li Fuchun Li Xiannian Nie Rongzhen Bo Yibo Tan Zhenlin Lu Dingyi Luo Ruiqing Xi Zhongxun	1959	1964		02
Lin Biao Chen Yun Deng Xiaoping He Long Chen Yi Ke Qingshi Ulanhu Li Fuchun Li Xiannian Tan Zhenlin Nie Rongzhen Bo Yibo Lu Dingyi Luo Ruiqing Tao Zhu Xie Fuzhi	1965	1975		03
Deng Xiaoping Zhang Chunqiao Li Xiannian Chen Xilian Ji Dengkui Hua Guofeng Chen Yonggui Wu Guixian Wang Zhen Yu Qiuli Gu Mu Song Jian	1975	1978	Hua Guofeng	04
Deng Xiaoping Li Xiannian Xu Xiangqian Ji Dengkui Yu Qiuli Chen Xilian Geng Biao Chen Yonggui Fang Yi Wang Zhen Gu Mu Kang Shi'en Chen Muhua	1978	1983	Hua Guofeng Zhao Ziyang	05
Wan Li Yao Yilin Li Peng Tian Jiyun	1983	1988	Zhao Ziyang Li Peng	06
Yao Yilin Tian Jiyun Wu Xueqian	1988	1993	Li Peng	07
Zhu Rongji Zou Jiahua Qian Qichen Li Lanqing	1993	1998		08
Li Lanqing Qian Qichen Wu Bangguo Wen Jiabao	1998	2003	Zhu Rongji	09
Huang Ju Wu Yi Zeng Peiyan Hui Liangyu	2003	2008	Wen Jiabao	10
Li Keqiang Hui Liangyu Zhang Dejiang Wang Qishan	2008	Incumbent (Term expires March 2013)		11