March 16 and March 20, 1943: Mao Zedong is elected president

March 16 and March 20, 1943: Mao Zedong is elected president of the Central Political Bureau

On March 16 and March 20, 1943, the CPC Central Committee held meetings of the Central Political Bureau in Yan'an. Ren Bishi reported on a proposal for restructuring and streamlining the institutions of the CPC Central Committee. The meeting decided that Mao Zedong would become the president of the Central Political Bureau and secretariat of the Central Committee. The meeting also decided that Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi and Ren Bishi would constitute the secretariat of the Central Committee. Liu Shaoqi was appointed vice president of the Central Military Commission. The meeting also set up the Propaganda Department and the Organizing Department of the CPC Central Committee.