Conventional long form: People's Republic of China
Capital: Beijing
Government Type: Communist
Independence Date; 1 October 1949
Holidays: Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, 1 October (1949)
Chief of state: President XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013); Vice President LI Yuanchao (since 14 March 2013)
Head of government: Premier LI Keqiang (since 16 March 2013); Executive Vice Premier ZHANG Gaoli (since 16 March 2013), Vice Premier LIU Yandong (since 16 March 2013), Vice Premier MA Kai (since 16 March 2013), and Vice Premier WANG Yang (since 16 March 2013)
Executive Branch: Presidential election every 5 years
Legislative; Congress that oversees country; elections are held every 5 years.
Judicial: Supreme court with elections every 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
China Ambassador to US: Ambassador CUI Tiankai (since 3 April 2013)
China Embassy in US: 3505 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco
US Ambassador to China: Ambassador Gary LOCKE (since 1 August 2011)
US Chinese Embassy: 55 An Jia Lou Lu, 100600 Beijing
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; the color red represents revolution, while the stars symbolize the four social classes - the working class, the peasantry, the urban petty bourgeoisie, and the national bourgeoisie (capitalists) - united under the Communist Party of China.