A state councillor (Chinese: 国务委员; pinyin: guówù wěiyuán) is a high-ranking position within the State Council, the executive organ of the Chinese government (comparable to a cabinet).

[1] The state councillors are nominated by the premier, who are then approved by the National People's Congress and appointed by the president.

[3] State councillors often accompany China's higher dignitaries on trips abroad, as was the case with State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan from 2003–2008, and Dai Bingguo from 2008–2013.

Dai also became China's representative at the 2009 G8 summit in Italy when President Hu Jintao decided to cut short his attendance to return to China in order to deal with the July 2009 Ürümqi riots.

Eleven state councillors were appointed, ten of whom were vice premiers until then, the only exception being Zhang Jingfu.