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Hu Jintao

Historical Figure

Hu Jintao

b. 1942

Leader of China from 2002 to 2012

Modern

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Biography

Hu Jintao is a Chinese politician who served as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from 2002 to 2012, president of China from 2003 to 2013, and chairman of the Central Military Commission from 2004 to 2012. He was a member of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee, China's top decision-making body, from 1992 to 2012, and served as the paramount leader of China from 2002 to 2012.

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In Their Own Words (5)

We are ready to expand the friendly people-to-people exchanges and enhance exchanges and cooperation in science, technology, culture, education, and other areas.

2006

Both China and the United States are countries of significant influence in the world. We share important common strategic interests in a wide range of areas, including economic cooperation and trade, security, public health, energy, and environmental protection, and on major international and regional issues. In particular, mutually beneficial and win-win China-U.S. economic cooperation and trade benefit our two peoples and promote the economic growth in the Asia Pacific region and the world at large. Indeed, they have become an important foundation for China-U.S. relations.

2006

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, the 21st century has entrusted people around the world with a lasting historic mission: That is to maintain world peace, promote common development and create a brighter future for mankind. Let us work together with the international community to build a world of enduring peace, common prosperity and harmony. Thank you once again, Mr. President, for your warm welcome.

2006

The Chinese and the Americans are great peoples. The Americans are optimistic, full of enterprising drive, down to earth, and innovative. In just over 200 years, they have turned the United States into the most developed country in the world, and made phenomenal achievements in economic development and science and technology.

2006

The Chinese people have always cherished goodwill towards the American people. In 1784, U.S. merchant ship, Empress of China, sailed to China, opening the friendly exchanges between our two peoples. In mid 19th century, several dozen thousand Chinese workers, working side-by-side with American workers and braving harsh conditions, built the great railway linking the East and the West of the American continent.

2006

Timeline

The story of Hu Jintao, told in moments.

1968 Event

Sent to work in Gansu Province during the Cultural Revolution. Spent years building dams and irrigation projects in one of China's poorest regions. The hardship posts built his political credibility.

1992 Event

Appointed to the Politburo Standing Committee by Deng Xiaoping. He was 49. Deng chose him as the heir apparent for the generation that would lead China into the 21st century.

2003 Event

Became President of China. Governed for a decade with the phrase "harmonious society" as his slogan. GDP quadrupled. He avoided the spotlight. His style was consensus, not charisma.

2022 Event

Visibly escorted out of the 20th Party Congress in Beijing. Cameras caught the moment. No official explanation. He hasn't been seen publicly since.

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