Xi Jinping

In this article, the family name is Xí (习).

Xi Jinping , born on 15 June 1953, is a prominent Chinese politician who has held the position of general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) since 2012, making him the paramount leader of China. Additionally, he has served as the seventh president of China since 2013. As a member of the fifth generation of Chinese leadership, Xi is notable for being the first CCP general secretary born after the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Xi Jinping
习近平
Xi in 2024
General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 November 2012
Preceded by	Hu Jintao
President of China
Incumbent
Assumed office 14 March 2013
Premier	Li Keqiang Li Qiang
Vice President	Li Yuanchao (2013Template:Nbnd2018) Wang Qishan (2018Template:Nbnd2023) Han Zheng (2023Template:Nbndpresent)
Preceded by	Hu Jintao
Chairman of the Central Military Commission
Incumbent
Assumed office Party Commission: 15 November 2012 State Commission: 14 March 2013
Deputy	Fan Changlong Xu Qiliang Zhang Youxia He Weidong
Preceded by	Hu Jintao
First-ranked Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party
In office 22 October 2007 – 15 November 2012
General Secretary	Hu Jintao
Preceded by	Zeng Qinghong
Succeeded by	Liu Yunshan
Vice President of China
In office 15 March 2008 – 14 March 2013
President	Hu Jintao
Preceded by	Zeng Qinghong
Succeeded by	Li Yuanchao
Personal details
Born	(1953-06-15) 15 June 1953 Beijing, China
Political party	CCP (since 1974)
Spouse(s)	Ke Lingling ​ ( m. 1979; div. 1982) Peng Liyuan ( m. 1987)
Children	Xi Mingze
Parent(s)	Xi Zhongxun Qi Xin
Relatives	Qi Qiaoqiao (sister)
Residence	Zhongnanhai
Alma mater	Tsinghua University
Awards	Full list
Signature
Website	www.gov.cn (in Chinese)
Scientific career
Thesis	A Tentative Study on China's Rural Marketization (2001)
Doctoral advisor	Liu Meixun (刘美珣)
2=
Central institution membershipTemplate:Discuss 2007–: 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th Politburo Standing Committee 2007–: 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th Politburo 2007–2012: Secretary (first-ranked), 17th Central Secretariat 2002–: Full member, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th Central Committee 1997–2002: Alternate member, 15th Central Committee 1998–: Delegate, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th National People's Congress Leading Groups and Commissions 2018–present: Director, Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission 2018–present: Director, Central Foreign Affairs Commission 2018–2023: Director, Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission 2018–present: Director, Central Comprehensive Law-based Governance Commission 2018–present: Director, Central Comprehensively Deepening Reforms Commission 2014–present: Leader, Leading Group for Defence and Military Reform 2014–2018: Leader, Leading Group for Internet Security and Informatization 2013–present: Chairman, National Security Commission 2013–2018: Leader, Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs 2013–2018: Leader, Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reforms 2012–present: Leader, Central Leading Group for Taiwan Affairs 2012–2018: Leader, Foreign Affairs Leading Group 2007–2012: Leader Group for Party Building c. 2007–2012: Leader, Leading Group for Activities of Deepening the Study and Practice of the Outlook of Scientific Development 2007–2012: Leader, Central Coordination Group for Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Other offices held 2016–present: Supreme Commander, Joint Battle Command of the People's Liberation Army 2010–2013: Vice Chairman, State Central Military Commission 2010–2012: Vice Chairman, Party Central Military Commission 2008–2013: Vice President of China 2007–2012: President, Central Party School 2007: Party Committee Secretary, Shanghai municipality 2002–2007: Party Secretary, Zhejiang province, director, Standing Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress 2002: Deputy Party Secretary & acting governor, Zhejiang province 1999–2002: Governor, Fujian province 1995–2002: Deputy Party Secretary, Fujian province 1990–1996: Party Secretary, Fuzhou 1990–1996: Chairman, Standing Committee of the Fuzhou Municipal People's Congress 1988–1990: Party Secretary, Ningde 1985–1988: Deputy Mayor, Xiamen 1983–1985: Party Secretary, Zhengding County Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China ← Hu Jintao (Current holder)

Xi Jinping, the son of prominent Chinese communist figure Xi Zhongxun, faced exile to rural Yanchuan County in Shaanxi Province during his teenage years due to his father's purge amid the Cultural Revolution. He resided in a yaodong in the village of Liangjiahe, where, after several unsuccessful attempts, he eventually joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and took on the role of local party secretary. After completing his studies in chemical engineering at Tsinghua University as a worker-peasant-soldier student, Xi advanced politically within China's coastal provinces. He served as the governor of Fujian from 1999 to 2002, and then as the governor and party secretary of neighboring Zhejiang from 2002 to 2007. In 2007, following the dismissal of Shanghai's party secretary Chen Liangyu, Xi was briefly appointed to replace him. That same year, he became a member of the Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) of the CCP and was named the first-ranking secretary of the Central Secretariat in October. In 2008, he was identified as Hu Jintao's likely successor as paramount leader. To facilitate this transition, Xi was appointed the eighth vice president and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC). In 2016, he was officially recognized by the CCP with the title of "leadership core."

Xi Jinping has adopted a more assertive foreign policy, especially concerning China's interactions with the United States, the contentious nine-dash line in the South China Sea, and the ongoing Indo-China border dispute. In addition, to promote Chinese economic interests globally, Xi has aimed to enhance China's influence in Africa and Eurasia through the Belt and Road Initiative. His tenure has also been marked by a decline in relations between Beijing and Taipei, particularly under Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who succeeded Ma Ying-jeou, a leader Xi Jinping met in 2015. In 2020, Xi Jinping oversaw the enactment of a national security law in Hong Kong that restricted political opposition, particularly targeting pro-democracy activists in the city.

Since Xi Jinping assumed power, his administration has seen a marked rise in censorship and mass surveillance, alongside a decline in human rights, notably the persecution of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. There has also been the emergence of a cult of personality surrounding his leadership and the abolition of presidential term limits in 2018. Xi's political ideology, referred to as Xi Jinping Thought, has been integrated into both the party and national constitutions. As the leading figure of the fifth generation of leadership in the People's Republic of China (PRC), Xi has concentrated institutional power by holding various roles, which include heading new CCP committees focused on national security, economic and social reforms, military restructuring and modernisation, as well as internet governance.

In October 2022, he secured a third term as General Secretary of the CCP, followed by his re-election as state president for a third term in March 2023.

Personal life

Family

Xi Jinping's first marriage was to Ke Lingling, the daughter of Ke Hua, who served as China's ambassador to the United Kingdom in the early 1980s. Their marriage ended in divorce within a few years, reportedly due to frequent conflicts, with Ke later relocating to England. In 1987, Xi married the renowned Chinese folk singer Peng Liyuan. The couple was introduced by mutual friends, a common practice for couples in China during the 1980s. During their courtship, Xi was noted for his academic demeanor, often asking about singing techniques. Peng Liyuan, a prominent figure in Chinese culture, was more widely recognized than Xi until his rise in politics. Their professional commitments often led to them living apart. As China's "first lady," Peng has taken on a more prominent role compared to her predecessors; she notably hosted U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama during her high-profile visit to China in March 2014.

Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, have a daughter named Xi Mingze, who graduated from Harvard University in the spring of 2015. During her time at Harvard, she used a pseudonym while pursuing studies in Psychology and English. The family resides in Jade Spring Hill, a residential and garden area located in north-western Beijing, managed by the Central Military Commission (CMC).

In June 2012, Bloomberg News published a report indicating that members of Xi's extended family had significant business interests; however, there was no evidence to suggest that he had intervened on their behalf. Following the article's release, access to the Bloomberg News website was blocked in mainland China. As Xi Jinping launched an anti-corruption campaign, The New York Times reported that his family members began divesting their corporate and real estate investments starting in 2012. Furthermore, relatives of several high-ranking Chinese officials, including seven current and former senior leaders of the CCP's Politburo, were mentioned in the Panama Papers. This includes Deng Jiagui, Xi's brother-in-law, who had two shell companies registered in the British Virgin Islands while Xi served on the Politburo Standing Committee. These companies became inactive by the time Xi took on the role of general secretary of the CCP in November 2012.

Personality

Peng Liyuan characterised Xi Jinping as diligent and humble, stating, When he comes home, I've never felt as if there's some leader in the house. To me, he's just my husband. In 1992, journalist Lena H. Sun from The Washington Post interviewed Xi, who was then the CCP secretary of Fuzhou. Sun noted that Xi appeared significantly more relaxed and self-assured compared to many officials of his age, often speaking without referring to notes. A 2011 article in The Washington Post featured descriptions of Xi from those familiar with him, portraying him as "pragmatic, serious, cautious, hard-working, down-to-earth, and low-key." He was recognised for his problem-solving skills and was seen as "seemingly uninterested in the trappings of high office."

Additionally, Chinese state media has depicted him as a fatherly figure and a champion of the people's interests, committed to advocating for China.

Public image

Assessing public opinion on Xi Jinping in China is challenging due to the absence of independent surveys and strict censorship of social media. Nonetheless, he is generally perceived to be quite popular within the country. A 2014 poll conducted by the Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation showed that Xi achieved a domestic approval rating of 9 out of 10. Additionally, a YouGov poll released in July 2019 indicated that approximately 22% of respondents in mainland China identified Xi as the person they admire most, representing a plurality; in contrast, this figure was below 5% among residents of Hong Kong.

In the spring of 2019, the Pew Research Center surveyed confidence in Xi Jinping across six countries—Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea. The results revealed that a median of 29% expressed confidence in Xi to handle global affairs correctly, while 45% reported a lack of confidence. These confidence levels were slightly higher than those for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who had 23% confidence and 53% no confidence.

Furthermore, a 2021 poll by Politico and Morning Consult found that only 5% of Americans held a favorable view of Xi, while 38% viewed him unfavorably. Additionally, 17% had no opinion, and a plurality of 40% had never heard of him.