2013 in China

2013 in China was a year marked by significant political transition, continued economic growth, and notable developments in science, technology, and international relations within the People’s Republic of China.

Incumbents

Position	Officeholder	Notes
President of the People’s Republic of China	Hu Jintao (until 14 March) → Xi Jinping (from 14 March)
General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)	Hu Jintao (until 15 November) → Xi Jinping (from 15 November)
Premier of the State Council	Li Keqiang (since 15 March)
Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC)	Hu Jintao (until 15 March) → Xi Jinping (from 15 March)
Vice President	Wang Qishan (until 14 March) → Li Yuanchao (from 14 March)
Vice Premier (first-ranked)	Zhang Dejiang (until 15 March) → Zhang Dejiang continued in post; other vice premiers appointed on 15 March alongside Li Keqiang’s cabinet.

Political Events

Date	Event
14 March	Xi Jinping inaugurated as the 7th President of the People’s Republic of China during the 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) session in Beijing.
15 March	Xi Jinping elected Chairman of the Central Military Commission, consolidating his role as the top commander of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
15 March	Li Keqiang sworn in as Premier, heading the State Council’s new lineup of ministers.
15 November	Xi Jinping officially elected General Secretary of the CCP, completing the transition of the Party’s highest leadership post.
December	The 12th National People's Congress concluded, enacting amendments to the Constitution that, among other changes, removed term limits for the President and Vice President (though the removal of term limits was formally enacted later in 2018; the amendment process began in this session).

Domestic Policy

Anti‑corruption campaign: Following his accession, Xi Jinping launched a high‑profile anti‑corruption drive targeting officials at all levels, commonly referred to as the “tigers and flies” campaign. The campaign led to investigations of numerous senior officials and was a central theme of 2013’s political agenda.
Economic reforms: The State Council introduced measures to reduce excess industrial capacity, promote consumption, and encourage innovation, aligning with the “new normal” concept of slower but more sustainable growth.
Social policy: The government continued the “Two-Child Policy” pilot in selected provinces, a precursor to the full relaxation of the one‑child rule in 2015.

Economy

GDP growth: Official statistics reported a year‑on‑year real GDP increase of 7.7 %, reflecting a modest slowdown from the double‑digit growth rates of earlier decades but still above the global average.
Industrial output: Manufacturing output grew by 7.6 %; the services sector expanded by 9.0 %.
Trade: Exports rose 13.2 % to US$2.25 trillion, while imports increased 20.2 % to US$1.78 trillion, resulting in a trade surplus of approximately US$470 billion.
Stock market: The Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges introduced circuit‑breaker mechanisms in January to curb extreme volatility; these were suspended in July after causing unintended market disruptions.

Science, Technology, and Space

Date	Milestone
2 December	Chang’e‑3 lunar probe successfully landed on the near side of the Moon, deploying the Yutu (Jade Rabbit) rover — China’s first soft‑landing on the lunar surface and a milestone in its deep‑space exploration program.
October	The Chinese government officially announced the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a strategic infrastructure and trade development program aimed at enhancing connectivity across Eurasia, Africa, and beyond.
Various dates	Continued advancements in high‑speed rail, with the network surpassing 20,000 km of operational lines, and the inauguration of the Beijing–Shanghai high‑speed railway’s “benchmark” stations.
November	Launch of the Gaofen‑1 satellite, part of the China High‑Resolution Earth Observation System (CHEOS), enhancing remote sensing capabilities for environmental monitoring and disaster relief.

International Relations

U.S.–China Climate Cooperation: In November, President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama announced a joint pledge to curb carbon emissions, marking a renewed diplomatic focus on climate change. |
South China Sea: China continued to construct artificial islands and installed military facilities in the contested Spratly and Paracel archipelagos, prompting diplomatic protests from the United States, the Philippines, and other Southeast Asian nations. |
World Trade Organization (WTO): China held its annual WTO “China Week” in Geneva, promoting trade liberalization and encouraging foreign investment. |
Asian Youth Games: Nanjing hosted the 2013 Asian Youth Games from 16–24 August, featuring 2,500 athletes from 45 nations competing in 9 sports. |

Culture and Society

Film: The domestic box‑office hit “Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons” (directed by Stephen Chow) became the highest‑grossing Chinese film of the year, earning approximately ¥2.5 billion (≈US$400 million). |
Literature: Mo Yan, Nobel laureate in literature (2012), published the novel “The Red Sorghum” in a new Chinese edition, renewing discussion of his work domestically. |
Sports: China’s national football team qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification round, though it ultimately failed to secure a spot for the tournament. |
Internet & Media: The Public Security Bureau expanded the “Great Firewall” infrastructure; sites such as Google, Wikipedia (certain language editions), and some social media platforms remained partially inaccessible. |

Notable Deaths

Date	Name	Occupation	Notability
24 January	Zhou Enlai (posthumous remembrance) – former Premier (though he died in 1976, 2013 marked the 37th anniversary of his death, prompting state‑sponsored commemorations).
9 April	Qian Zhongshu (†86) – celebrated literary scholar and author, remembered in academic circles for “Limited Views.”
30 August	Chen Zhong – former Olympic gold‑medalist in taekwondo (2000 Sydney), passed away after a prolonged illness.

(The list reflects individuals whose deaths were publicly reported and recognized in mainland Chinese media.)

Summary

The year 2013 was a pivotal point in modern Chinese history, characterized by the consolidation of Xi Jinping’s leadership, an ongoing shift toward higher‑value economic growth, assertive foreign‑policy actions, and landmark achievements in space exploration. These developments laid the groundwork for subsequent policy directions that would shape China’s domestic and international trajectory throughout the 2010s.

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