China: Zhou Enlai with Song Qingling, Beijing, Lu Xiangyou (Mao Zedong's personal photographer), 1961

Zhou Enlai was the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, serving from October 1949 until his death in January 1976. Zhou was instrumental in the Communist Party's rise to power, and subsequently in the development of the Chinese economy and restructuring of Chinese society. Soong Ch'ing-ling, Shanghai, 1920 (pinyin: Song Qingling, 27 January 1893 - 29 May 1981), also known as Madame Sun Yat-sen, was one of the three Soong sisters who, along with their husbands, were amongst China's most significant political figures of the early 20th century. She was the Vice Chairman of the People's Republic of China. She was the first non-royal woman to officially become head of state of China, acting as Co-Chairman of the Republic from 1968 until 1972. She again became head of state in 1981, briefly before her death, as President of China. Soong is sometimes regarded as Asia's first female non-monarchial head of state, although her title of Honorary President of the People's Republic of China was purely ceremonial.