Hu Jintao Chairman of the People's Republic of China Date of Birth: 25.12.1942 Country: China

1. Early Life and Education
2. Political Career in Western China
3. Rise to National Prominence
4. Party Secretary in Southwest China
5. National Leadership
6. Presidency
7. International Relations
8. Personal Life

Early Life and Education

Hu Jintao was born into a poor peasant family in Jiangsu, China on December 25, 1942. His family later moved to Anhui Province in eastern China. Hu joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in April 1964. He graduated from Tsinghua University in Beijing with a degree in hydraulic engineering in 1965.

Political Career in Western China

During the Cultural Revolution, Hu was sent to Gansu Province in western China to build a hydroelectric dam on the Yellow River. There, he began his party career, becoming the Secretary of the Gansu Provincial Committee for Construction in 1974. Hu also studied at the Central Party School in Beijing.

Rise to National Prominence

In 1982, Hu was elected as a candidate member of the CCP's Central Committee. He rose through the ranks quickly, becoming the Secretary of the Communist Youth League of China in 1984. Hu's organizational skills and leadership abilities were recognized, and he was transferred to provincial party work.

Party Secretary in Southwest China

From 1985 to 1988, Hu served as Party Secretary of Guizhou Province, a poor region in southwest China. He then moved on to serve as Party Secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region from 1988 to 1992. During his time in Tibet, major ethnic riots occurred in Lhasa, a challenging period for his leadership.

National Leadership

In 1992, Hu was elected to the Politburo Standing Committee and the CCP Central Committee Secretariat. From 1993 to 1998, he concurrently served as Director of the Party School of the CCP Central Committee. Hu was elected Vice President of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1998, a position he held until 2002. During this time, he also served as Director of the Party School and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the CCP and the PRC.

Presidency

In November 2002, Hu was elected as the General Secretary of the CCP. In March 2003, he was elected President of the PRC by the 10th National People's Congress. Hu held both positions until 2013.

International Relations

During his presidency, Hu emphasized diplomatic engagement and international cooperation. He visited Russia for a brief working visit in October 2001, meeting with President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov.

Personal Life

Hu Jintao married Liu Yongqing in 1962. They met while attending university together. Liu worked in various government positions before retiring to a low-profile life. The couple has two children, a son and a daughter.