China's powerful and charming princeling

PROFILE: The next leader is likely to keep the world's second largest economy on a steady course rather than try to reform the system

XI JINPING, the anointed leader of the world’s most populous nation and its second biggest economy, who is coming to Ireland on February 18th, is a powerful princeling in the Chinese Communist Party and a canny political operator.

Currently vice-president, Xi is a more outgoing figure than current leader President Hu Jintao. His leadership looks set to try and soften China’s image abroad, all the while staying firm on domestic political issues such as Tibet, Xinjiang and Taiwan.

During his visit to the US, before the Irish leg, he will go to Mucatine in Iowa, where he once stayed, and have tea with friends.

Most Chinese people are probably more familiar with his wife, folk singer Peng Liyuan, who can be seen singing patriotic songs in military uniform on TV galas.

He has a daughter at Harvard and is known as a charming figure with a sharp mind. He also has a reputation as a graft-buster, having taken over as party boss in Shanghai in 2007 when his predecessor Chen Liangyu was felled in a corruption scandal.

His father was veteran revolutionary, Li Zhongxun, who was deputy prime minister from 1959 to 1962, making Xi one of the princelings of the Communist Party’s political dynasties.

His father was purged during the Cultural Revolution. Xi hunkered down in the countryside until the Mao Zedong-orchestrated decade of ideological frenzy abated.

Xi studied chemical engineering at Beijing’s Tsinghua University, then worked as a secretary for Geng Biao, who was then vice- premier and secretary general of the central military commission.

He earned his stripes when he dealt with a smuggling scandal in the southern Fujian province and presided over strong economic expansion in the eastern province of Zhejiang. Xi 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, he has been responsible for Hong Kong and Macau affairs and head of the Central Party School.

It would be wrong to expect Xi to be a major reformer. He is more likely to focus on keeping the world’s second largest economy on a steady course rather than try to reform the system, and will continue the work of President Hu in boosting the country’s global status.

He can certainly be direct and is much more outspoken that Hu. In 2009, during a visit to Mexico, he rounded on China’s critics.

“There are some foreigners out there with full bellies, with nothing better to do than to point their fingers at us. Firstly, China does not export revolution. Secondly, it does not export famine and poverty. Thirdly, it doesn’t cause you any trouble. What more do you want?”

Xi is in the frame to start his succession period at the 18th Communist Party Congress in October, and perhaps the visit to Ireland will give an idea what course he will steer China in.