Hu Jintao

Hu Jintao
Name	Hu Jintao
Caption	Hu Jintao in 2009
Office	President of the People's Republic of China
Vicepresident	Zeng Qinghong, Xi Jinping
Term start	March 15, 2003
Term end	March 14, 2013
Premier	Wen Jiabao
Office2	General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party
Deputy2	Wen Jiabao
Term start2	November 15, 2002
Term end2	November 15, 2012
Predecessor2	Jiang Zemin
Successor2	Xi Jinping
Office3	Chairman of the Central Military Commission
Term start3	September 19, 2004
Term end3	November 15, 2012
Predecessor3	Jiang Zemin
Successor3	Xi Jinping
Birth date	21 December 1942
Birth place	Taizhou, Jiangsu, Republic of China
Party	Chinese Communist Party (since 1964)
Spouse	Liu Yongqing
Children	Hu Haifeng, Hu Haiqing
Alma mater	Tsinghua University

Hu Jintao served as the paramount leader of the People's Republic of China from 2002 to 2012, holding the positions of General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission. His tenure, often characterized by the political theory of the Scientific Development Concept, oversaw a period of dramatic economic growth and increasing global influence for China. He succeeded Jiang Zemin and was succeeded by Xi Jinping, presiding over the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and navigating the 2007–2008 financial crisis.

Early life and education

Born in Taizhou, Jiangsu during the Second Sino-Japanese War, he was raised primarily by his aunt after his mother's early death. He excelled academically and was admitted to the prestigious Tsinghua University in 1959, studying hydraulic engineering at its Department of Hydraulic Engineering. During his time at Tsinghua University, he joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1964 and became a political instructor, demonstrating early leadership qualities. After graduation, he was assigned to work on water conservancy projects with the Ministry of Water Resources in Gansu province, a remote and challenging posting.

Political career

His early career in Gansu and later Guizhou provinces showcased his competence in grassroots administration, catching the attention of senior party officials like Song Ping. In 1985, he was unexpectedly promoted to become the Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary of Guizhou, China's youngest provincial leader at the time. His handling of student protests in Lhasa in 1989 while serving as Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region was noted in Beijing. This led to his co-option into the national leadership, joining the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party in 1992 and being named Vice President of the People's Republic of China in 1998, positioning him as the designated successor to Jiang Zemin.

Presidency (2003–2013)

Assuming the presidency in 2003, his administration was defined by collective leadership alongside Premier Wen Jiabao. Major events included the 2003 SARS outbreak, which prompted reforms to China's public health system, and the spectacular hosting of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. His government managed the national response to the devastating 2008 Sichuan earthquake and steered the economy through the global 2007–2008 financial crisis with a massive Chinese economic stimulus program. The period saw the launch of landmark projects like the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway and the China National Space Administration's first crewed space mission.

Domestic policies

Domestically, his leadership promoted the Scientific Development Concept, aiming for more balanced and sustainable growth to address rising inequality between coastal and inland regions. The government abolished centuries-old agricultural tax to relieve farmer burdens and invested heavily in infrastructure like the Qinghai–Tibet Railway. However, the era also saw persistent challenges, including widespread corruption in China, severe air pollution in China, and social unrest, with the handling of the 2009 Ürümqi riots drawing international scrutiny. Internet censorship tightened under frameworks like the Great Firewall.

Foreign policy

In foreign affairs, he championed a "Harmonious World" doctrine, seeking to present China as a responsible global stakeholder. This period, known as the "peaceful rise," saw deepening economic ties with Africa and Latin America and the establishment of strategic dialogues with the United States and the European Union. Relations with Japan remained strained over issues like the Senkaku Islands dispute, while cross-strait relations with Taiwan saw a thaw under the 1992 Consensus with Ma Ying-jeou. China joined the World Trade Organization just prior to his tenure, and his era consolidated its role within the G20.

Post-presidency and legacy

Since leaving office in 2012, he has maintained a low public profile, adhering to the party's tradition of retired leaders avoiding commentary on current affairs. His legacy is debated; he is credited with overseeing a decade of spectacular economic expansion and global integration but also criticized for not deepening political reforms and allowing corruption in China to fester. His smooth handover of power to Xi Jinping was initially seen as cementing norms of collective leadership, though subsequent political developments under the Xi Jinping Administration have led to reassessments of his era's political dynamics.

Category:Presidents of the People's Republic of China Category:General Secretaries of the Chinese Communist Party Category:2008 Summer Olympics