Xi Jinping is the current President of the People’s Republic of China, having assumed office in 2013. Prior to his presidency, Xi served in a variety of leadership positions within the Communist Party of China, including as the Party’s General Secretary and as the Chairman of the Central Military Commission.
Xi Jinping was born in 1953 in Beijing, China. His father, Xi Zhongxun, was a prominent communist leader who served as a vice premier and minister of propaganda in the Chinese government. Xi Jinping’s family experienced significant political upheaval during his childhood, as his father was purged from the Party and imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution. Xi Jinping himself was sent to the countryside to work as a “sent-down youth,” a program in which urban youth were sent to work in rural areas as part of the Cultural Revolution.
After the end of the Cultural Revolution, Xi Jinping returned to Beijing and enrolled in Tsinghua University, where he studied chemical engineering. He later joined the Communist Party and began his career in government and Party leadership positions.
As a leader, Xi Jinping has pursued a number of key policies and initiatives, including the “One Belt, One Road” infrastructure development project, which aims to connect China to other countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa through a network of railways, highways, and ports. He has also implemented a number of economic reforms and worked to reduce corruption within the Party.
Xi Jinping has also taken a strong stance on national security and territorial sovereignty, particularly in regards to Taiwan and the South China Sea. He has overseen the development of China’s military capabilities and has taken a more assertive stance on territorial disputes with neighboring countries.
In terms of domestic policy, Xi Jinping has pursued a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening the Party’s control over society and increasing social stability. These have included measures to strengthen censorship and control over the media and internet, as well as efforts to promote “traditional” Chinese values and culture.
Overall, Xi Jinping’s presidency has been marked by a focus on strengthening China’s economic and military power, as well as increasing the Party’s control over society. His leadership has been characterized by a more assertive and nationalist approach, and he has sought to increase China’s influence on the global stage.