Hua Guofeng

Chinese statesman and prime minister (1976–80), born in Jiaocheng, Shanxi province, NE China. He was vice-governor of Hunan (1958–67), but came under attack during the Cultural Revolution. A member of the Central Committee of the Party from 1969, and of the Politburo from 1973, he became deputy prime minister and minister of public security (1975–6), and in 1976 was made prime minister and chairman of the Central Committee. Under him China adopted a more pragmatic domestic and foreign policy, with emphasis on industrial and educational expansion, and closer relations with Western and Third World countries. He resigned as chairman in 1981.

Hua Guofeng (Simplified Chinese: 华国锋; Wade-Giles: Hua Kuo-feng) (born February 16, 1921) was Mao Zedong's designated successor as the paramount leader of the Communist Party of China and the People's Republic of China. Months later, Mao died, and Hua succeeded Mao as the Chairman of the Communist Party of China, to the surprise and dismay of Jiang Qing and the rest of the Gang of Four.

Born in Jiaocheng, Shanxi province, Hua joined the Communist Party of China (CCP) in 1938 as a part of counter-Japanese resistance. He became acting Premier of the People's Republic of China following Zhou Enlai's death, in January 1976, full Premier and party vice chairman in April 1976, and Chairman of the Communist Party of China when Mao died, in September 1976 (although this was not announced to the world until October 12).

As Deng Xiaoping gradually gained control over the CCP, Hua was denounced for promoting the Two Whatevers policy and replaced by Zhao Ziyang as Premier in 1980, and by Hu Yaobang as Party Chairman in 1981.