Xi Jinping
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| Xi Jinping 习近平 |
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 Official portrait of Xi |
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15th CPC Shanghai Committee Secretary
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office March 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Han Zheng |
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| Succeeded by | Incumbent |
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13th CPC Zhejiang Committee Secretary
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| In office June 2002 – March 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Zhang Dejiang |
| Succeeded by | Zhao Hongzhu |
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| Born | June 1953 Fuping, Shaanxi |
| Political party | Communist Party of China |
| Spouse | Peng Liyuan |
Xi Jinping (Simplified Chinese: 习近平; Traditional Chinese: 習近平; pinyin: Xí Jìnpíng, 1953—) is a politician in the People's Republic of China. Having served mostly in Fujian province earlier in his career, and moved onto Zhejiang as the provincial party chief from 2002-2007, he is currently Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, therefore the number-one figure in Shanghai. Known for his liberal policies, tough stance on corruption, and a frank openness about political and market economy reforms, Xi is considered an emerging member of China's fifth generation of leadership.
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[edit] Life and career
Xi Jinping is a native of Fuping, Shaanxi. Born in 1953, he is the son of Xi Zhongxun (1913-2002), one of the founders of the Communist guerrilla movement in northern China. His father welcomed Mao to Yan'an in 1935, at the end of the Long March, was imprisoned by him during a purge at the Communist base in the early 1940s, was purged again during the Cultural Revolution, yet rose to be a member of the Politburo under Deng Xiaoping. In 1986-87, he was its only member to stand up for the political reformer Hu Yaobang, when he came under attack. He joined the Communist Youth League in 1971 and joined the Communist Party of China in 1974. Xi has served in four provinces during his government and Party career: Shaanxi, Hebei, Fujian and Zhejiang. The younger Xi has won his spurs as the governor of Fujian, since 2000, where he has laboured to make the province attractive to Taiwan investors and to foster a market economy. His political stance in Zhejiang is tough and straightforward against corrupt officials, which has gained him a name on the national media as well as attention from China's current top leaders. He has held Party positions in the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee, and in 1990 he became president of the Party school in Fuzhou. In 1999 he became the vice-governor of Fujian province, then governor a year later. In 2002 he took up senior government and Party positions in Zhejiang Province, becoming its Party Chief, and thus number-one figure. Xi was in turn made an alternate member of the 15th CPC Central Committee and is a member of the 16th CPC Central Committee. After the dismissal of Chen Liangyu in September 2006 due to a social security fund scandal, Han Zheng, who replaced Chen as an acting Party Chief, was in turn replaced by Xi as the next Party Chief of Shanghai in March of 2007.
Before Xi became the Party Chief for Shanghai, he was in charge of Zhejiang, one of China's most affluent provinces, a center for the success of China's economic development, with growth rates averaging 14% in for the past twenty years. Xi kept his policies in line with the central government, but was also very conciliatory in developing the Yangtze Golden Triangle region with neighbours Shanghai[1]. Xi Jinping is considered by many to be an emerging figure, open to serious dialogue about deep-seated market economic reforms and even political reform. He is generally popular with foreign dignitaries, who are intrigued by his openness and pragmatism. U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson regards Xi as a rising political star and friend[2]. Whether Xi feels the same way is hard to gauge.
Xi's appointment to the Party Secretary post in Shanghai, which is arguably the most important regional leadership position in China, is seen as a sign of confidence and affirmation from President Hu Jintao, and a stepping stone for Xi to become an emerging member of the fifth generation of Chinese leadership, a result that would be solidified by his appointment as a full member of the Politburo at the 17th Party Congress.
[edit] Personal
Xi Jinping is the third child of communist elder Xi Zhongxun and Qi Xin. They had four children, Xi Jiaojiao, Xi An'an, Xi Jinping, and Xi Yuanping (in chronological birth order). Xi Jinping is married to Peng Liyuan, a popular folk singer attached to the PLA General Political Department's song and dance troupe who rose to national stardom in the 1990s. They have a teenage daughter named Xi Mingze, born in 1992.
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| Preceded by Han Zheng |
CPC Shanghai Committee Secretary 2007– |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Zhang Dejiang |
CPC Zhejiang Committee Secretary 2002—2007 |
Succeeded by Zhao Hongzhu |
