China's next General Secretary and President
Most corrupt officials are from poor families but Chinese royals have a spirit that is not dominated by money -Li Datong
"When he was sent to the countryside at 15 and his father was jailed, Xi Jinping [left] learned a lesson in political pragmatism that has helped to carry him to within a step of the pinnacle of power in China."Eschewing the turbulent fervour of the Cultural Revolution in favour of stable growth, he has spent the 30 years since working his way up the Communist party hierarchy. The rise has been unspectacular. So much so that until he took pole position on Monday in the race to lead a fifth of humanity, the party boss of Shanghai was less well known in China than his celebrity wife Peng Liyuan, a folk singer in the People's Liberation Army's musical troupe...
"Despite his pedigree as the son of a high official of the revolutionary era, Mr Xi's elevation was a surprise to many politburo watchers...
"A communist from the age of 21, Mr Xi cut his administrative teeth in the fast-growing provinces of Fujian and Zhejiang. Foreign investors and diplomats spoke highly of his English, knowledge of international business practices and ability to get things done.
"He has twice been called upon to clean up high-profile corruption cases...
"Loyalty to the party, a lack of controversy and the ability to please all factions are the main qualities needed to rise inside today's communist party, according to Nicholas Becquelin of Human Rights Watch. 'There are no particular policies associated with Xi,' he says. 'If you are tipped to go up the ranks, you have to be as bland as possible with nothing on your record that can attract opposition from rivals.'...
"The favourite to become the next party leader had been Li Keqiang, the party boss of Liaoning who was a protege of Mr Hu's for more than a decade. But he was too close to the president for the liking of other powerbrokers, such as former president Jiang Zemin, so Mr Xi became the compromise candidate..."
Labels: China, leadership, politics
posted by Ken Wedding @ 7:10 AM
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