Nine elders

jiǔ zhǎnglǎo | 九长老

March of the nine elders (CCTV)

The nine members of the Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) from to 2007 to 2012: Hu Jintao, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang, and Zhou Yongkang. The “nine elders” represented the ultimate decision-making body within the Chinese government.

The number of PSC members was reduced to seven in the 2012-2013 leadership transition. Two from the cohort now lead China: President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.

See also nine presidents.