Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, was elected president of the People's Republic of China yesterday at the first session of the 10th National People's Congress, becoming the new head of State of a country with a population of approximately 1.3 billion.

Since taking up the post as Party leader last November, Hu has exhibited an outstanding image in leading the new central leadership in conscientiously carrying out the important "Three Represents'' thought and the spirit of the 16th National Congress of the CPC; steadfastly holding high the banner and advancing with the times; promoting democracy and unity; working hard and seeking truth from facts; being incorruptible and working wholeheartedly in the public interest; and being committed to construction and development.

Soon after the 16th Party National Congress, Hu Jintao, along with the members of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, made a study tour of Xibaipo, the venerated land of the Chinese revolution in Pingshan County, northern Hebei Province. It was from that place that the then CPC Central Committee left for Beijing on March 23, 1949, to establish State power, a date described by Mao Zedong as the "day to take an exam in Beijing.''

Hu made a speech at Xibaipo, calling on the whole Party, leading officials in particular, to review Mao's important remarks on the eve of the founding of New China, to bear deeply in mind the great trust by the Party and people as well as the historic mission they shoulder, resolutely carry forward the working style characterized by modesty and prudence, while guarding against conceit and impetuosity, to resolutely carry forward the practice of working hard, and to strive to attain an excellent level of performance in the new, great practice of building a Xiaokang society -- one that is well-off in an all-round way.

A native of Jixi County, Anhui Province, Hu was born in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, in 1942, where he finished his primary and secondary school. In 1959, he was accepted by Tsinghua University and graduated from the Hydraulic Engineering Department in 1965.

Hu began work at the grass-roots level in west China's Gansu Province in 1968 where he remained for 14 years. In 1985, he was appointed, successively, secretary of the CPC Guizhou Provincial Committee and of the CPC Tibet Autonomous Regional Committee.

During the eight years in Guizhou and Tibet, Hu Jintao, braving adverse conditions and highland anoxia, visited many remote areas, made extensive contact with people of various nationalities, conducted in-depth investigations and studies, and worked out economic and social development strategies and long-term programmes suited to local conditions. He made outstanding contributions to stability and development of the two economically less-developed regions, by uniting the members of the leadership, cadres and people of different nationalities to form a strong joint force for great undertakings.

His working experience in west China's harsh areas and at the top echelon of the central authorities have combined to allow Hu to thoroughly understand the national situation, reinforce his conviction of the necessity of speeding up economic development and promote reform and opening to the outside world, to help him cultivate a working style featuring fairness and honesty, his exemplary role, profound research, concern for people's joys and sorrows, steadfastness and pragmatism, and pioneering spirit.

In 1992, 49-year-old Hu Jintao was elected a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee at the first plenum of the 14th CPC Central Committee, which was then widely considered as an important step the CPC had taken towards generational transition of central leadership. In September 1997, Hu was re-elected member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee at the first plenum of the 15th CPC Central Committee.

In March 1998 and September 1999, he became vice-president of the PRC and vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission. A decade-long member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Hu participated directly in mapping out policies and guidelines of the Party and the state, and exhibited his outstanding ability in handling Party, government, military and diplomatic affairs.

Sources close to him say that he has perused many of the works of Marx, Lenin and Mao Zedong, arriving at a profound understanding of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important "Three Represents'' thought and laying a solid foundation for his theoretical attainment.

From 1993 to the end of 2002, Hu was concurrently president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, which has been the training base for senior CPC cadres and the backbone of theoretical studies over the past 70 years.

Sources with the school say that Hu attended almost all the school's opening and closing ceremonies and analyzed the international and domestic situation, interpreted the central authorities' theoretical lines and policies, and made a point of providing guidance to students. He made painstaking efforts towards the building of the school, the Party's top institution of higher learning, and gave many important instructions on the school's educational guidelines, teaching reform, textbook compilation, theoretical research, and the updating of teaching means.

As a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau taking charge of Party and personnel affairs, Hu earnestly implemented the important thoughts of Jiang Zemin on Party building and the building of the contingent of Party cadres, and did a great deal of pioneering work. He put forward many propositions on promoting the study of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important "Three Represents'' thought enhancing the whole Party's ideological and theoretical level, deepening reform of the cadre and personnel system, fostering a contingent of qualified cadres, strengthening the building of the Party's grass roots organizations, reinforcing the cohesiveness and competence of the Party organizations at various levels, and improving the working style of leading groups at all levels, and promoting Party building in a systematic and standard manner.

Under his guidance, related departments took a series of effective measures and made marked progress in Party building.

When he was secretary, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC), chairman of the All- China Youth Federation, Hu organized a string of unique, effective and youth-friendly activities that got a strong and positive response from young people and the society as a whole. In his capacity as a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau,

Hu was then in charge of affairs relating to trade unions, the CYLC, and the women's federation. He gave useful instructions on working with the masses under new circumstances, earnestly acting as he advocated. He has maintained close contact with people from all walks of life, and won their respect.

In July 1998, the CPC Central Committee made a decision to steer the country's armed forces, armed police and law-enforcement authorities out of business activities. Hu was entrusted to take charge of implementing the decision. With close co-operation from all parties concerned, Hu smoothly accomplished this complicated task.

Hu has also demonstrated his wisdom, courage and competence in foreign affairs. He met with many political figures and dignitaries from other countries, and has headed a number of Chinese delegations on foreign tours. His trips to five European nations in 2001 and the United States in 2002 attracted extensive attention, dubbed by overseas sources as Hu's successful "diplomatic debut.'' What is worth noting is that Hu impressed the local press and people with his easy-going manner and convincing answers to queries from the press, and he won wide acclaim during his European visit. Upon his arrival in New York, Hu braved the rain to extend thanks to overseas Chinese waiting to greet him at the hotel gate with a deep bow. Those concerned were all deeply impressed by his affable personality.

In top posts, Hu has shown great concern for the livelihood of the broad masses. Soon after he was elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Hu presided over a meeting of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau to discuss measures to solve the difficulties the people were facing in their daily lives. Wherever his inspection tour took him, Hu called on local, poor families to get a better knowledge of their day to day lives and the difficulties they faced .

In early 2003, Hu went to the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to visit needy people surviving in freezing temperatures of minus 30 degrees celsius. There he urged officials at all levels to fully recognize the great significance of using their power for the welfare of the people and a quick solution to the practical problems in the people's immediate interests.

Hu is a principled man with a strategic vision; he is good at dealing with the overall situation and making innovations with a pioneering spirit; he is quick-minded and attentive to detail; he works solidly and dares to take decisions at critical moments; he is democratic in his style of work, approachable, calm and modest, with a strong personal charisma; he is informative and has a good memory and works selflessly night and day. It is for all these reasons that he has left a deep impression on the people since he took to politics.

Hu and his wife Liu Yongqing were schoolmates at Tsinghua University. The couple have a son and a daughter, who are also graduates of Tsinghua University.

(xinhua)