Xi Jinping, groomed as next China leader?

Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, a very popular

folk singer attached to the PLA General Department’s

song and dance troupe.

Party insiders say Vice-President Xi Jinping may be

promoted to the vice-chairmanship of the CCP's Central

Military Commission add that it will confirm Xi's

status as Hu's successor as party general secretary

and state president.

According to state news agency Xinhua, the 204-member

committee will discuss a draft document on "party

building" which covers everything from the battle

against corruption to recruitment for the 75

million-member party. The military commission is in

charge of the 2.3 million-strong People's Liberation

Army.

Fifth generation of leadership...

CHINA's Communist Party leaders will meet this week to elect

the nine-person Politburo standing committee, which rules the

country. The four-day meeting is expected to order direct

elections at the county or fourth level of government as part

of long promised plans to increase internal democracy.

In an additional plenary session of the party's central

committee, the party's 440 senior members are expected to

effectively confirm Vice-President Xi Jinping as President Hu

Jintao's successor in 2012, when up to seven new positions on

the top rung will be up for grabs.

But while strong hints on the fifth generation of Chinese

leaders will emerge, the meeting will focus on internal

reforms as the party prepares to celebrate 60 years in power.

History

"Xi's appointment to the Party Secretary post in Shanghai was

seen as a stepping stone for him to become an emerging member

of the fifth generation of Chinese leadership. This was

solidified by his appointment as a member of the nine-man

Politburo Standing Committee at the 17th Party Congress in

October 2007. Interestingly, Xi was ranked above Li Keqiang,

which made him the most likely candidate for China's next

core figure - the paramount leader. This assessment was

further supported at the 11th National People's Congress, Xi

was elected as Vice-President of the People's Republic of

China on March 15, 2008. Some suggest this was because Xi

had kept friendly relations with both Hu Jintao and the other

power figure in the central leadership, Zeng Qinghong. In

addition to these posts, Xi also held the top-ranking

membership of the Communist Party's Secretariat.

Since his elevation Xi has held a broad range of portfolios.

He was put in charge of the comprehensive preparations for

the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, as well as the central

government's leading figure in Hong Kong and Macau affairs.

In addition, he also became the new Principal of the Central

Party School, the cadre-training and ideological education

wing of the Communist Party. In the wake of the 2008 Sichuan

Earthquake, Xi went and visited disaster areas in Shaanxi and

Gansu. After the Olympics, Xi was assigned the post of

Committee Chair for the preparations of the 60th Anniversary

Celebrations of the founding of the People's Republic of

China.

Xi is considered to be one of the most successful members of

the Crown Prince Party, a quasi-clique of politicians who are

descendants of early Chinese revolutionaries. Senior leaders

consider Xi to be an emerging figure that is open to serious

dialogue about deep-seated market economic reforms and even

political reform, although Xi's personal political views are

relatively murky. He is generally popular with foreign

dignitaries, who are intrigued by his openness and

pragmatism. Founder of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, when asked

about Xi, said he felt he was "a thoughtful man who has gone

through many trials and tribulations." Lee also

commented: "I would put him in the Nelson Mandela's class of

persons. A person with enormous emotional stability who does

not allow his personal misfortunes or sufferings affect his

judgment. In other words, he is impressive". Xi was named

as one of the most influential people in the world in the

2009 Time 100 list." (Quotes of China Hour, Xinhua, Wiki,

T.Aus.)

Xi Jinping 习近平

Name translation:

-习 xí learn; habit; usual practic

-平易近人 píng yì jìn rén

"easy to approach to common people"

Xi’s wife 彭丽媛 Peng Liyuan

丽 lì beautiful – 媛 yuàn beauty