TOPIC

/ people

Hu Jintao

Born in 1942 and Chinese president since 2003, Anhui native Hu Jintao had been posted to Gansu, Guizhou and Tibet during his climb up the party ranks, and first became a member of the Politburo’s standing committee in 1992. He graduated from Tsinghua University in 1964 with a degree in engineering. The Communist Youth League is known to be a staunch supporter of Hu. He retired as General Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Party's Central Military Commission during the 18th Party Congress in November 2012. He remained president of the PRC until 2013 when he was succeeded by Xi Jinping.

Born

21 Dec 1942

Industry

Politics

Job Title

Former President of China

Politburo Standing Committee member Cai Qi is the new head of the Central Party School. Photo: AFP

China’s Communist Party

Xi Jinping’s ‘chief of staff’ Cai Qi takes Central Party School helm

Politburo Standing Committee member Cai, who ranks fifth in the Communist Party hierarchy, will head the elite cadre college.

5 Jun 2026 - 10:10PM

2026 Xi-Trump summit

The toast, the tastes and the tech selfie that crowned the US-China summit

14 May 2026 - 10:17PMvideocam

Taiwan

Former KMT chairwoman calls for ‘profound mutual trust’ with mainland China

3 Apr 2026 - 8:44PM

My Take

My Take | In China, AI is about job creation and quality, not mass retrenchments

Beijing aims at tech diffusion and minimising social disruptions, rather than competing for supremacy with the United States.

23 Mar 2026 - 12:41AMvideocam

Beijing wants to implement artificial intelligence into its economy with minimal disruption to the livelihoods of its ciizens. Photo: Shutterstock

Central Military Commission

‘Communist warrior’: China’s leaders pay tribute to late general Liao Xilong

Liao praised for his party loyalty just days after the downfall of the country’s top uniformed officer.

29 Jan 2026 - 11:08PMvideocam

Taiwan

Are the Communist Party and the KMT reviving a cross-strait political channel?

The Kuomintang’s vice-chairman is expected to head a party delegation from Taiwan to the mainland later this month, reports say.

9 Jan 2026 - 8:01PMvideocam

Taiwan

KMT chair hopes to take peace message to Beijing while on political tightrope

Cheng Li-wun is concerned about timing of visit as election season looms, while critics say her plan downplays security threat to Taiwan.

4 Jan 2026 - 5:49PMvideocam

Kuomintang chairwoman Cheng Li-wun hopes to visit Beijing early this year but the plan is sparking controversy in Taiwan. Photo: AFP

SCMP Highlights

Mexico’s 50% tariff shock, China warns India over Dalai Lama: 5 weekend reads

From China warning India over Dalai Lama to a Hong Kong civil servant’s apology, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

22 Dec 2025 - 1:02PM

China-EU relations

Brussels ramps up China de-risking while France and Germany pull further apart

Raids, probes and new screening rules collide with widening splits between Paris and Berlin over how tough to be on Beijing.

12 Dec 2025 - 3:03AMvideocam

China's military weapons

The Front Line | Guerrilla warfare to hi-tech: how China’s military parades have evolved

Along with the marching and ceremony, these events are used to showcase advanced equipment developed for the People’s Liberation Army.

31 Aug 2025 - 5:01PMvideocam

China’s first-ever military parade was held on October 1, 1949, the date of the proclamation of the People’s Republic. Photo: CCTV

Diplomacy

Xi boosts China ties in resource-rich Central Asia

A summit with five leaders from Central Asia offers President Xi Jinping the chance to snap up more raw materials for China’s economy in a region once viewed as Russia’s backyard.

17 Jun 2025 - 5:52PM

China-Russia relations

Russia moves again to join with China and India despite their trust issues

Analysts say Trump’s tariffs and other policies could unite three countries but long-standing conflicts between them remain an obstacle.

10 Jun 2025 - 4:08PMvideocam

Singapore

Asian Angle | The Singapore-China ties Lawrence Wong inherits from Lee Hsien Loong

Under Lee, bilateral ties were upgraded through economic initiatives and dialogue platforms – despite occasional political hiccups.

19 May 2024 - 6:41PMvideocam

China-EU relations

EU cranks up the pressure as China’s Xi Jinping prepares for 3-nation visit

President Xi Jinping’s European trip comes amid barrage of EU trade and competition tools largely targeting Chinese firms, including dramatic raids in the Netherlands and Poland.

3 May 2024 - 10:16PMvideocam

Chinese President Xi Jinping, his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von de Leyen in Beijing last April. The three are due to meet again in Paris next week. Photo: Pool via Reuters

China’s Communist Party

Son of former Chinese president Hu Jintao promoted to deputy minister

State Council announces the promotion of Hu Haifeng to deputy civil affairs minister after five years as party boss of small city in eastern China.

16 Jan 2024 - 8:21PMvideocam

Hu Haifeng, son of former Chinese president Hu Jintao, has been promoted to vice-ministerial rank with his new position as China’s deputy civil affairs minister. Photo: Simon Song

US-China relations

Not quite Mar-a-Lago as Xi breaks the ice with Biden, 6 years after Trump summit

Business-like tone takes the place of warm family moments displayed during 2017 visit as Xi Jinping and Joe Biden hold first in-person talks in a year.

17 Nov 2023 - 2:53AMvideocam

Li Keqiang

Editorial | Continuing down the reformist path best way to remember Li

China is all the poorer for the death of the ‘people’s premier’ Li Keqiang, who always showed his caring side even as he steered the nation through some of its most difficult moments.

27 Oct 2023 - 11:06PMvideocam

China economy

China Briefing | Xi’s Chinese dream in danger of being hijacked by ultra-left nationalism

The ultra-leftist revival threatens Xi’s plans to revive the economy and turn China into a dominant world power by 2049. It’s time to curb these ultra-nationalistic tendencies and return to pragmatic reform and development.

6 Mar 2023 - 1:00AMvideocam

Jiang Zemin

Xi Jinping hails Jiang Zemin for steering China through tough times

Xi vows to carry on with opening up to the world while also working for ‘national rejuvenation’.

6 Dec 2022 - 11:44PMvideocam

Jiang Zemin

Why former leader Hu Jintao did not attend Jiang Zemin’s funeral

The 80-year-old did attend a brief ceremony on Monday, but did not appear at Tuesday’s longer funeral service.

6 Dec 2022 - 8:42PMvideocam

Jiang Zemin

Jiang Zemin’s body completes final journey to Chinese capital

President Xi Jinping and other senior leaders receive the late leader’s casket ahead of the state funeral on Tuesday morning.

3 Dec 2022 - 4:20PMvideocam

Troops carry Jiang Zemin’s casket down the steps from the plane that brought his body from Beijing. Photo: CCTV

Xi Jinping

Back To The Future | Communist Party’s moment of crisis turned Xi from ‘weakest’ to ‘most powerful’ leader

China’s long-standing norms, including retirement age and balance of power at the top, are set aside as Xi Jinping seeks to restore party discipline.

28 Oct 2022 - 10:38AMvideocam

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. Photo: Xinhua/File

South Korea

China envoy blasts US for dividing Seoul and Beijing, defends Hu’s congress exit

Ambassador Xing Haiming accused the US of being the “biggest external challenge” to Seoul-Beijing relations, while also claiming Hu Jintao’s dramatic exit at the Communist Party congress was due to age.

26 Oct 2022 - 8:39PMvideocam

Video | Former Chinese president Hu escorted from party congress hall

23 Oct 2022 - 12:32PM

China’s 20th Party Congress

Hu Jintao’s congress exit a break from the Communist Party script

The reason for Hu’s departure from the closing ceremony is unclear and prompted widespread discussion online.

23 Oct 2022 - 12:45PMvideocam

256

Former Chinese president Hu Jintao leaves his seat next to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, during the closing ceremony of the congress on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

China’s 20th Party Congress

China Briefing | History hints at how China will select its next leaders at 20th party congress

China’s new leadership line-up could be finalised by the end of September, if officials follow a similar timetable to the last congress. But don’t expect any straw polls – or to find out who made the cut until the final day.

5 Sep 2022 - 9:44AM

Chinese President Xi Jinping claps while addressing the media as he introduced new members of the Politburo Standing Committee on the final day of the 19th party congress at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People in 2017. Photo: AP

China’s Communist Party

From Mao to now: Shambaugh compares and contrasts China’s leaders

What are the similarities and differences between Xi Jinping and Mao Zedong? Was Deng Xiaoping the People’s Republic’s greatest leader?

11 Oct 2021 - 6:43PMvideocam

China’s Communist Party turns 100

Communist Party sticks to the script on a day for young and old

Audience of more than 70,000 fills Tiananmen Square for carefully choreographed celebration and while Xi Jinping gets much of the attention, younger faces also take centre stage.

2 Jul 2021 - 12:04AMvideocam

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

Hu Jintao

Xi Jinping’s ‘chief of staff’ Cai Qi takes Central Party School helm

Politburo Standing Committee member Cai, who ranks fifth in the Communist Party hierarchy, will head the elite cadre college.

The toast, the tastes and the tech selfie that crowned the US-China summit

Former KMT chairwoman calls for ‘profound mutual trust’ with mainland China

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}My Take | In China, AI is about job creation and quality, not mass retrenchments

Beijing aims at tech diffusion and minimising social disruptions, rather than competing for supremacy with the United States.

‘Communist warrior’: China’s leaders pay tribute to late general Liao Xilong

Liao praised for his party loyalty just days after the downfall of the country’s top uniformed officer.

Are the Communist Party and the KMT reviving a cross-strait political channel?

The Kuomintang’s vice-chairman is expected to head a party delegation from Taiwan to the mainland later this month, reports say.

KMT chair hopes to take peace message to Beijing while on political tightrope

Cheng Li-wun is concerned about timing of visit as election season looms, while critics say her plan downplays security threat to Taiwan.

Mexico’s 50% tariff shock, China warns India over Dalai Lama: 5 weekend reads

From China warning India over Dalai Lama to a Hong Kong civil servant’s apology, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

Brussels ramps up China de-risking while France and Germany pull further apart

Raids, probes and new screening rules collide with widening splits between Paris and Berlin over how tough to be on Beijing.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}The Front Line | Guerrilla warfare to hi-tech: how China’s military parades have evolved

Along with the marching and ceremony, these events are used to showcase advanced equipment developed for the People’s Liberation Army.

Xi boosts China ties in resource-rich Central Asia

A summit with five leaders from Central Asia offers President Xi Jinping the chance to snap up more raw materials for China’s economy in a region once viewed as Russia’s backyard.

Russia moves again to join with China and India despite their trust issues

Analysts say Trump’s tariffs and other policies could unite three countries but long-standing conflicts between them remain an obstacle.

Asian Angle | The Singapore-China ties Lawrence Wong inherits from Lee Hsien Loong

Under Lee, bilateral ties were upgraded through economic initiatives and dialogue platforms – despite occasional political hiccups.

EU cranks up the pressure as China’s Xi Jinping prepares for 3-nation visit

President Xi Jinping’s European trip comes amid barrage of EU trade and competition tools largely targeting Chinese firms, including dramatic raids in the Netherlands and Poland.

Son of former Chinese president Hu Jintao promoted to deputy minister

State Council announces the promotion of Hu Haifeng to deputy civil affairs minister after five years as party boss of small city in eastern China.

Not quite Mar-a-Lago as Xi breaks the ice with Biden, 6 years after Trump summit

Business-like tone takes the place of warm family moments displayed during 2017 visit as Xi Jinping and Joe Biden hold first in-person talks in a year.

Editorial | Continuing down the reformist path best way to remember Li

China is all the poorer for the death of the ‘people’s premier’ Li Keqiang, who always showed his caring side even as he steered the nation through some of its most difficult moments.

China Briefing | Xi’s Chinese dream in danger of being hijacked by ultra-left nationalism

The ultra-leftist revival threatens Xi’s plans to revive the economy and turn China into a dominant world power by 2049. It’s time to curb these ultra-nationalistic tendencies and return to pragmatic reform and development.

Xi Jinping hails Jiang Zemin for steering China through tough times

Xi vows to carry on with opening up to the world while also working for ‘national rejuvenation’.

Why former leader Hu Jintao did not attend Jiang Zemin’s funeral

The 80-year-old did attend a brief ceremony on Monday, but did not appear at Tuesday’s longer funeral service.

Jiang Zemin’s body completes final journey to Chinese capital

President Xi Jinping and other senior leaders receive the late leader’s casket ahead of the state funeral on Tuesday morning.

Back To The Future | Communist Party’s moment of crisis turned Xi from ‘weakest’ to ‘most powerful’ leader

China’s long-standing norms, including retirement age and balance of power at the top, are set aside as Xi Jinping seeks to restore party discipline.

China envoy blasts US for dividing Seoul and Beijing, defends Hu’s congress exit

Ambassador Xing Haiming accused the US of being the “biggest external challenge” to Seoul-Beijing relations, while also claiming Hu Jintao’s dramatic exit at the Communist Party congress was due to age.

Video | Former Chinese president Hu escorted from party congress hall

Hu Jintao’s congress exit a break from the Communist Party script

The reason for Hu’s departure from the closing ceremony is unclear and prompted widespread discussion online.

China Briefing | History hints at how China will select its next leaders at 20th party congress

China’s new leadership line-up could be finalised by the end of September, if officials follow a similar timetable to the last congress. But don’t expect any straw polls – or to find out who made the cut until the final day.

From Mao to now: Shambaugh compares and contrasts China’s leaders

What are the similarities and differences between Xi Jinping and Mao Zedong? Was Deng Xiaoping the People’s Republic’s greatest leader?

Communist Party sticks to the script on a day for young and old

Audience of more than 70,000 fills Tiananmen Square for carefully choreographed celebration and while Xi Jinping gets much of the attention, younger faces also take centre stage.

My Take | In China, AI is about job creation and quality, not mass retrenchments

The Front Line | Guerrilla warfare to hi-tech: how China’s military parades have evolved