Hu Jintao

Hu Jintao , 61, is now formally in command of all the party, government and military of China, becoming the new head of China with a population of approximately 1.3 billion.(Detail)

Jiang Zemin

Jiang Zemin resigned from his position as chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on September 19, 2004. Jiang's resignation was not only a respectable finale for his personal political career, but also a perfect finishing touch to what has been the smoothest leadership transition in modern China. (Detail)

Deng Xiaoping

Deng Xiaoping (1904-1997) was the communist leader of the People's Republic of China from the late 1970s until his death in 1997. He is credited with transforming a listless Chinese society into a strong industrial power by incorporating elements of the free-market system.(Detail)

Mao Zedong

The son of a peasant, Mao Zedong ((1893 - 1976)) was born in the village of Shao Shan, Hunan Province in China. He led the communist party to defeat the Kuomingdang and establish New China in 1949.(Detail)