The President of the People's Republic of China is the head of the State, as well as the supreme representative of China both internally and externally. The state presidency is an independent State apparatus, and a component part of China's State organization.

According to international practice, Chinese president, like most State heads in the world, has the power to promulgate statutes and holds supreme diplomatic and ceremonial rights.

Under the current Constitution, the President has the power to promulgate the statutes adopted by the NPC; appoint and remove members of the State Council; confer State medals and titles of honor in line with the decision of the NPC and its Standing Committee; issue orders for special pardons; proclaim martial law; declare a state of war and issue orders of mobilization; accept letters of credential offered by foreign diplomatic representatives on behalf of the People's Republic of China; appoint and recall China's diplomatic envoys stationed abroad and ratify and abrogate treaties and important agreements signed with foreign States.

China's system of the head of State is a system of collective leadership. The President of the State is subordinate to the NPC, and directly receives instructions from supreme State power organs. The Constitution regulates that Chinese citizens, who have reached the age of 45 and have the right to vote and to stand for election, can be a candidate for the presidency. However, they must be nominated by the NPC.

See the profile of current President of PRC: Mr. Jiang Zemin