Vice-president Xi Jinping: Outgoing and charming with sharp mind

Xi Jinping, is currently vice-president of China and is tipped to be the next supreme leader of the country.

Fifty-eight-years old, he has a daughter at Harvard university, and is married for the second time. His wife is flamboyant folk singer Peng Liyuan. He is known as an outgoing, charming figure with a sharp mind.

Mr Xi will start the process of becoming leader in October

at the 18th Communist Party Congress, when he will probably be appointed general secretary of the party, and then successively be named president and head of the army.

However, the timetable of these appointments is less clear.

The son of veteran revolutionary and guerrilla leader Xi Zhongxun, he is one of the “princelings” of the Communist Party’s political dynasties.

He earned his stripes when he dealt with a smuggling scandal in the southern Fujian province and presided over robust economic expansion in the eastern province of Zhejiang.

Mr Xi has a reputation as a troubleshooter, having taken over as party boss in Shanghai in 2007 after his predecessor Chen Liangyu was felled in a corruption scandal.

The vice-president has degrees in engineering and law from the prestigious Tsinghua University, the alma mater of current president Hu Jintao and other senior leaders.

He was put in charge of ensuring the success of the Olympic Games in 2008 and the general view is that he succeeded with flying colours.

During his career, Mr Xi has been responsible for Hong Kong and Macau affairs and is head of the Central Party School.