View source for Hu Jintao

{{Short description|Leader of China from 2002 to 2012}}
{{redirect|Jintao|people with the given name|Jintao (disambiguation)}}
{{family name hatnote|[[Hu (surname)|Hu]]|lang=Chinese}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Hu Jintao
| native_name         = {{nobold|胡锦涛}}
| native_name_lang    = zh-cn
| image               = Chinese President Hu Jintao in 2011.jpg
| caption             = Hu in 2011
| office              = [[General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party|General Secretary of the<br>Communist Party of China]]
| term_start          = 15 November 2002
| term_end            = 15 November 2012
| predecessor         = [[Jiang Zemin]]
| successor           = [[Xi Jinping]]
| office2             = [[President of China]]
| premier2            = [[Wen Jiabao]]
| vicepresident2      = {{unbulleted list|[[Zeng Qinghong]]<br/>(2003–2008)|Xi Jinping<br/>(2008–2013)}}
| term_start2         = 15 March 2003
| term_end2           = 14 March 2013
| predecessor2        = Jiang Zemin
| successor2          = Xi Jinping
| office3             = [[Chairman of the Central Military Commission (China)|Chairman of the Central Military Commission]]
| deputy3             = {{unbulleted list|Xi Jinping|[[Guo Boxiong]]|[[Xu Caihou]]|[[Cao Gangchuan]]}}
| term3               = {{plainlist|
* {{longitem|{{ubl|'''Party Commission:'''}} {{avoid wrap|19 September 2004 – 15 November 2012}}}}
* {{longitem|{{ubl|'''State Commission:'''}} {{avoid wrap|13 March 2005 – 14 March 2013}}}}
}}
| predecessor3        = Jiang Zemin
| successor3          = Xi Jinping {{Collapsed infobox section begin|Other office held}}
| office4             = [[Secretariat of the Chinese Communist Party|First-ranked Secretary of the Secretariat of the Chinese Communist Party]]
| term_start4         = 19 October 1992
| term_end4           = 15 November 2002
| 1blankname4         = {{nowrap|General Secretary}}
| 1namedata4          = Jiang Zemin
| predecessor4        = [[Qiao Shi]]
| successor4          = Zeng Qinghong
| order5              = [[Vice President of China]]
| term_start5         = 15 March 1998
| term_end5           = 15 March 2003
| president5          = Jiang Zemin
| predecessor5        = [[Rong Yiren]]
| successor5          = Zeng Qinghong
| office6             = [[Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission]]
| term6               = {{plainlist|
* {{longitem|'''Party Commission:''' {{avoid wrap|22 September 1999 – 19 September 2004}}}}
* {{longitem|'''State Commission:''' {{avoid wrap|31 October 1999 – 13 March 2005}}}}
}}
| 1blankname6         = Chairman
| 1namedata6          = Jiang Zemin
| office7             = [[Party Secretary of Tibet]]
| term_start7         = 1 December 1988
| term_end7           = 1 December 1992
| 1blankname7         = General Secretary
| 1namedata7          = {{unbulleted list|[[Zhao Ziyang]]|Jiang Zemin}}
| predecessor7        = Wu Jinghua
| successor7          = [[Chen Kuiyuan]]
| office8             = [[Party Secretary of Guizhou]]
| term_start8         = 8 July 1985
| term_end8           = 1 December 1988
| 1blankname8         = General Secretary
| 1namedata8          = {{unbulleted list|[[Hu Yaobang]]|Zhao Ziyang}}
| predecessor8        = [[Zhu Houze]]
| successor8          = [[Liu Zhengwei]]
| office9             = [[First Secretary of the Communist Youth League of China]]
| 1blankname9         = General Secretary
| 1namedata9          = Hu Yaobang
| term_start9         = 14 December 1984
| term_end9           = 8 July 1985
| predecessor9        = [[Wang Zhaoguo]]
| successor9          = [[Song Defu (politician)|Song Defu]]{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1942|12|21|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Taizhou, Jiangsu]], China
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Chinese Communist Party|CCP]]
| spouse              = [[Liu Yongqing]]
| profession          = [[Hydraulic engineering|Hydraulic engineer]]
| alma_mater          = [[Tsinghua University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
| signature           = Hu Jintao autograph.svg
| module              = {{unbulleted list|{{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Voice of Hu Jintao 2011 US Visit.ogg|title=Hu Jintao's voice|type=speech|description=Hu Jintao spoke at the State Visit Welcoming Ceremony at the White House, Recorded January 2011}}}}
| footnotes           = {{Collapsible list
|titlestyle= background-color:#FCF;text-align:center;
|title=Central institution membership
|bullets=on
| 1992–2012: [[14th Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party|14th]], [[15th Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party|15th]], [[16th Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party|16th]], [[17th Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party|17th]] Politburo Standing Committee
| 1992–2002: Secretary (first-ranked), 14th, 15th, Central Secretariat
| 1992–2012: [[14th Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party|14th]], [[15th Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party|15th]], [[16th Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party|16th]], [[17th Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party|17th]] Politburo
| 1985–2012: [[12th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party|12th]], [[13th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party|13th]], [[14th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party|14th]], [[15th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party|15th]], [[16th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party|16th]], [[17th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party|17th]] Central Committee
| 1982–1985: [[12th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party|12th]] Alternate Membership of the Central Committee
| 1988–2013: 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th National People's Congress
}}
----
{{Collapsible list
|titlestyle= background-color:#FCF;text-align:center;
|title=Other offices held
|bullets=on
| 1999–2005: [[Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission|Vice Chairman]], State [[Central Military Commission (China)|Central Military Commission]]
| 1999–2004: Vice Chairman, Party Central Military Commission
| 1998–2003: [[Vice President of China]]
| 1993–2002: President, [[Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party|Central Party School]]
| 1988–1992: [[Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary|Party Committee Secretary]], [[Tibet Autonomous Region]]
| 1985–1988: Party Committee Secretary, [[Guizhou province]]
| 1983–1985: [[First Secretary of the Communist Youth League of China|First Secretary]], [[Communist Youth League of China|Communist Youth League]]
| 1983–1985: President, [[All-China Youth Federation]]
}}
----
{{center|'''[[Paramount leader|Paramount Leader of <br/> the People's Republic of China]]'''<br />
{{flatlist|
*{{big|'''←'''}} [[Jiang Zemin]]
*[[Xi Jinping]] {{big|'''→'''}}
}}
}}
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| pic = Hu Jintao (Chinese characters).svg
| piccap = "Hu Jintao" in Simplified (top) and Traditional (bottom) Chinese characters
| picupright = 0.5
| s = 胡锦涛
| t = 胡錦濤
| order = st
| p = {{unbulleted list|Hú Jǐntāo|Hú Jǐntáo}}
| tp = {{unbulleted list|Hú Jǐn-tao|Hú Jǐn-táo}}
| w = {{unbulleted list|{{tone superscript|Hu2 Chin3-tʻao1}}|{{tone superscript|Hu2 Chin3-t}}{{wg-apos}}{{tone superscript|ao2}}}}
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|h|u|2|-|j|in|3|.|t|ao|1}}
| bpmf = {{unbulleted list|ㄏㄨˊ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄐㄧㄣˇ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄊㄠ|ㄏㄨˊ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄐㄧㄣˇ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄊㄠˊ}}
| j = wu4 gam2 tou4
| y = Wùh Gám-tòuh
| ci = {{IPAc-yue|w|u|4|-|g|am|2|-|t|ou|4}}
| poj = Ô͘ Gím-tô
| tl = Ôo Gím-tô
| buc = Hù Gīng-dò̤
| h = Fù Kím-thàu
}}
{{Hu Jintao sidebar}}'''Hu Jintao'''{{efn|{{IPAc-en|h|uː|_|dʒ|ɪ|n|ˈ|t|aʊ}}; {{lang-zh|s=胡锦涛|p=Hú Jǐntāo}}; {{IPAc-cmn|h|wu|2|-|j|in|3|.|t|ao|1|audio=胡锦涛.ogg}}}} (born 21 December 1942) is a Chinese politician who served as the [[general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP) from 2002 to 2012, [[president of China]] from 2003 to 2013, and [[Chairman of the Central Military Commission (China)|chairman of the Central Military Commission]] from 2004 to 2012. He was a member of the [[Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party|CCP Politburo Standing Committee]], China's top decision-making body, from 1992 to 2012, and served as the [[paramount leader]] of China from 2002 to 2012.{{efn|"[[Paramount leader]]" is not a formal title; it is a reference occasionally used by media outlets and scholars to refer to the foremost political leader in China at a given time. There is no consensus on when Hu became the paramount leader or when his term ended. Hu became CCP general secretary, the top leader of the Chinese Communist Party in 2002, held the "trio" of top offices in the party, state and military—general secretary, president and CMC chairman—by 2004 and relinquished all three positions by 2013 to his successor.}}

Born in [[Taizhou, Jiangsu|Tai County]], [[Jiangsu]], Hu studied engineering at [[Tsinghua University]], joining the [[Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP) while in college. First working as a political counselor at Tsinghua, Hu later worked as an engineer in Gansu, later joining the province's Construction Department. He assumed leadership of the [[Communist Youth League of China]] (CYLC) branch in Gansu, afterwards joining the CYLC leadership in Beijing, eventually becoming the [[First Secretary of the Communist Youth League of China|first secretary of the CYLC]]. Hu was later appointed as [[Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary|Party Committee secretary]] for [[Guizhou]] province and the [[Tibet Autonomous Region]], where his harsh repression of dissent gained him attention from the highest levels. He moved up to serve as a member of the [[Secretariat of the Chinese Communist Party|CCP Central Secretariat]] and [[Vice President of China|vice president]] under CCP general secretary [[Jiang Zemin]], becoming Jiang Zemin's presumed [[Succession of power in China|successor]] as paramount leader

Hu was the first [[Leader of the Chinese Communist Party|leader of the Communist Party]] from a generation younger than those who participated in the civil war and the founding of the People's Republic. During his term in office, Hu reintroduced state control in some sectors of the economy that were relaxed by the previous administration, and provided support for [[State-owned enterprises of China|state-owned enterprises]]. He oversaw the response to the [[2002–2004 SARS outbreak]], as well as a significant increase in the healthcare coverage to the Chinese population. He sought to improve socio-economic equality domestically through his political contributions, termed the [[Scientific Outlook on Development]], which aimed to build a "[[Harmonious Socialist Society]]" that was prosperous and free of social conflict. Under his leadership, the authorities also cracked down on social disturbances, ethnic minority protests, and dissident figures, which also led to many controversial events such as the [[2008 Tibetan unrest|unrest in Tibet]]. He oversaw the passing of the [[Anti-Secession Law]], which laid conditions for authorizing military force for unification with Taiwan, and later saw closer relations with Taiwan, leading to the signing of the trade agreement [[Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement]] (ECFA) in 2010. In foreign policy, Hu advocated for [[China's peaceful rise]], pursuing [[Soft power of China|soft power]] in international relations and a corporate approach to diplomacy. Throughout Hu's tenure, China's influence in Africa, Latin America, and other developing regions increased. At the end of his tenure after ten years in office, Hu won praise for retiring voluntarily from all positions. He was succeeded by [[Xi Jinping]].

Hu possessed a modest and reserved leadership style. His tenure was characterized by collective leadership and consensus-based rule. These traits made Hu an enigmatic figure in the public eye. His administration was known for its focus more on [[Technocracy|technocratic]] competence and was conservative with political reforms. Along with his colleague [[Premier of China|Chinese premier]] [[Wen Jiabao]], Hu presided over nearly a decade of consistent economic growth and development that cemented China as a [[Great power|major world power]]. Following the [[Death and state funeral of Jiang Zemin|death]] of his predecessor [[Jiang Zemin]], Hu is the only living former paramount leader of the People's Republic of China. He was the last paramount leader of China to be born before the establishment of the PRC.

==Early life, education, and family==
{{stack|[[File:Old buildings in Jiāngyàn.jpg|thumb|Hu's birthplace, [[Jiangyan]], [[Jiangsu]]]]}}
Hu Jintao was born on 21 December 1942<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/video/2015-12/21/c_128552046.htm |title=Lìshǐ shàng de jīntiān – Guójiā zhǔxí Hú Jǐntāo chūshēng |script-title=zh:[历史上的今天]国家主席胡锦涛出生 |trans-title=Today in History – President Hu Jintao Was Born |language=zh |publisher=[[Xinhua News Agency]] |script-quote=zh:1942年12月21日，中华人民共和国国家主席胡锦涛出生。 |trans-quote=On 21 December 1942, President Hu Jintao of the People's Republic of China was born. |date=21 December 2015|access-date=29 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130013804/http://www.xinhuanet.com/video/2015-12/21/c_128552046.htm|archive-date=30 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> in [[Taizhou, Jiangsu|Tai County]], [[Jiangsu]] province, which was under [[Wang Jingwei regime|Japanese occupation]] at the time. He is a direct descendant of the [[Ming dynasty]] general [[Hu Zongxian]], known for fighting [[Wokou|Japanese pirates]].<ref>Liu, Melinda. (6 May 2002). [http://www.newsweek.com/man-jiangs-shadow-145603 "The Man in Jiang's Shadow"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422234007/https://www.newsweek.com/man-jiangs-shadow-145603 |date=22 April 2021 }}. ''[[Newsweek]]''.</ref> His branch of the family migrated from [[Jixi County]], [[Anhui]] to Taizhou during his grandfather's generation. Though his father owned a small tea trading business in Taizhou, the family was relatively poor. His mother was a teacher and died when he was 7, and he was raised by an aunt. Hu's father was denounced during the [[Cultural Revolution]], an event that (together with his relatively humble origins) apparently had a deep effect upon Hu, who diligently tried to clear his father's name.<ref>{{cite news |last=Havely |first=Joe |title=Getting to know Hu |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=19 October 2007 |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2007/10/2008525172536374792.html |access-date=7 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116185351/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2007/10/2008525172536374792.html |archive-date=16 November 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

He joined the [[Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP) in April 1964. That year he graduated from [[Tsinghua University]] after studying hub [[hydropower]] stations at the Water Conservancy Engineering Department. He worked as a political counselor at Tsinghua.<ref name=":032">{{Cite book |last=Doyon |first=Jérôme |title=Rejuvenating Communism: Youth Organizations and Elite Renewal in Post-Mao China |publisher=[[University of Michigan Press]] |year=2023 |isbn=978-0-472-90294-1 |pages= |doi=10.3998/mpub.12291596 |doi-access=free}}</ref>{{Rp|page=107}} In July 1965, Hu began work as an engineer.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/people/hujintao.shtml | title=Hu Jintao | access-date=16 April 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619113445/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/people/hujintao.shtml | archive-date=19 June 2010 | url-status=live }}</ref> In 1968, during the [[Third Front (China)|Third Front]] construction,<ref name=":9">{{Cite book |last1=Marquis |first1=Christopher |url= |title=Mao and Markets: The Communist Roots of Chinese Enterprise |last2=Qiao |first2=Kunyuan |date=2022 |isbn=978-0-300-26883-6 |location=New Haven |doi=10.2307/j.ctv3006z6k |jstor=j.ctv3006z6k |oclc=1348572572 |s2cid=253067190}}</ref>{{Rp|page=179}} Hu volunteered for his service in [[Gansu]] and worked on the construction of [[Liujiaxia Dam|Liujiaxia Hydroelectric Station]],<ref>{{cite book|publisher=Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture Tourist Board|year=2003|pages=26&ndash;27|script-title=zh:"临夏旅游"|trans-title=Linxia Tourism}}. No ISBN <!--. 146 pages. No ISBN. Pages 26-27.--></ref> while also managing CCP affairs for the local branch of the Ministry of Water Resources and Electric Power. From 1969 to 1974, he worked for [[Sinohydro]] Engineering Bureau.<ref>Nathan & Gilley, p. 79</ref>

In 1970, Hu married [[Liu Yongqing]], whom he had met at [[Tsinghua University]] when they were studying there. They have two children together, [[Hu Haifeng]] and Hu Haiqing, their children-in-law named [[Frances Yung]] and [[Mao Daolin]].<ref>{{cite news| url =https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/15/china-leader-hu-jintao | title =China's leader Hu Jintao leads a country in ferment| last =Brown| first =Kerry| date =15 October 2010| newspaper =[[The Guardian]]| access-date =4 February 2017| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20170205185621/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/15/china-leader-hu-jintao| archive-date =5 February 2017| url-status =live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine| url =https://content.time.com/time/specials/2007/personoftheyear/article/0,28804,1690753_1695388_1695753,00.html| title =Hu Jintao| last =Schell| first =Orville| date =19 December 2007| magazine =[[Time (magazine)|Time]]| access-date =4 February 2017| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20170106044010/http://content.time.com/time/specials/2007/personoftheyear/article/0,28804,1690753_1695388_1695753,00.html| archive-date =6 January 2017| url-status =live}}</ref> He has been noted for his liking of [[table tennis]] and [[ballroom dancing]].<ref>{{cite news
| url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/china_politics/key_people_events/html/11.stm
| title =Hu Jintao
| work =[[BBC News]]
| access-date =4 February 2017
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20170205185338/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/china_politics/key_people_events/html/11.stm
| archive-date =5 February 2017
| url-status =live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url =http://asianhistory.about.com/od/profilesofasianleaders/p/HuJinTaoProfile.htm
 |title =Hu Jintao
 |last =Szczepanski
 |first =Kallie
 |publisher =About
 |access-date =4 February 2017
|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080723185006/http://asianhistory.about.com/od/profilesofasianleaders/p/HuJinTaoProfile.htm
 |archive-date =23 July 2008
|url-status =live
 }}</ref> Hu is also said to possess a [[photographic memory]] that became evident in his high school days.<ref>{{cite news
 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2404129.stm
 |title=Asia-Pacific &#124; Profile: Hu Jintao
 |work=BBC News
 |date=16 September 2004
|access-date=13 March 2010
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106030531/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2404129.stm
 |archive-date=6 January 2010
|url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book
 | last =Wo-Lap Lam
 | first =Willy
 | title =Chinese politics in the Hu Jintao era: new leaders, new challenges
 | publisher =M.E. Sharpe
 | date =2006
 | pages =5
 | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=LFDxKEKvuSUC
 | isbn =978-0-7656-1773-6
 | access-date =21 May 2020
| archive-date =13 April 2023
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20230413161213/https://books.google.com/books?id=LFDxKEKvuSUC
 | url-status =live
 }}</ref>

==Early political career==
In 1973, Hu was transferred to the Construction Department of Gansu as a secretary. The next year he was promoted to [[Chinese Communist Party Deputy Committee Secretary|deputy senior party secretary]]. In 1980, [[Deng Xiaoping]] implemented the "Four Transformations" program, which aimed to produce communist leaders who were "more revolutionary, younger, more knowledgeable, and more specialized." In response to this nationwide search for young party members, [[Song Ping]], the first secretary of CCP Gansu Committee (Gansu's governor) discovered Hu Jintao and promoted him several ranks to the position of deputy head of the commission.<ref>Nathan & Gilley, p. 40</ref> Another protégé of Song, Wen Jiabao, also became prominent at the same time.

In 1982, Hu was promoted to the position of Communist Youth League Gansu Branch secretary and was appointed as the director of the [[All-China Youth Federation]].<ref name="PeoplesDailyBio">{{cite web|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/people/hujintao.shtml|title=Hu Jintao|work=[[People's Daily]]|access-date=16 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619113445/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/people/hujintao.shtml|archive-date=19 June 2010|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Ewing, 2003">{{cite journal |last1=Ewing |first1=Richard Daniel |date=20 March 2003 |title=Hu Jintao: The Making of a Chinese General Secretary |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/china-quarterly/article/abs/hu-jintao-the-making-of-a-chinese-general-secretary/17B33032553080A8B52A50A9CA9995A8 |url-status=live |journal=The China Quarterly |volume=173 |pages=17–34 |doi=10.1017/S0009443903000032 |s2cid=154666535 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025143604/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/china-quarterly/article/abs/hu-jintao-the-making-of-a-chinese-general-secretary/17B33032553080A8B52A50A9CA9995A8 |archive-date=25 October 2022 |access-date=25 October 2022|url-access=subscription }}</ref> His mentor, Song Ping, was transferred to Beijing as Minister of Organization of the Chinese Communist Party, and was in charge of senior cadres' recommendation, candidacy and promotion. With the support of [[Hu Yaobang]] (no relation) and Deng Xiaoping, Hu was assured of a bright future in the party. At Song Ping's suggestion, in 1982 central CCP authorities invited Hu to Beijing to study at the [[Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party|Central Party School]].<ref>Nathan & Gilley, p. 42</ref> Soon after, he was transferred to Beijing and appointed to a position in the secretariat of the [[Communist Youth League of China|Communist Youth League]] Central Committee ("CY Central"). Two years later Hu was promoted to [[First Secretary of the Communist Youth League of China|first secretary]] of CY Central, thus its actual leader. During his term in the Youth League, Hu escorted Hu Yaobang, who was CCP general secretary then, in visits around the country. Hu Yaobang, himself a veteran coming from the Youth League, could reminiscence his youth through Hu's company.<ref name="ReferenceA">People's Daily Bio</ref>

===Leading the party in Guizhou===
In 1985, Communist Party general secretary Hu Yaobang pushed for Hu Jintao to be transferred to [[Guizhou]] as the [[Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary|provincial Committee secretary]] of the Chinese Communist Party.<ref name=siscirise>{{cite news |last=Sisci |first=Francesco |title=Democracy with Chinese characteristics |work=Asia Times |date=9 November 2005 |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/GK09Ad01.html |access-date=15 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517062135/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/GK09Ad01.html |archive-date=17 May 2008 |url-status=unfit }}</ref> Hu attempted to improve the economy of the backwater province, and reputedly visited all of its eighty-six counties.<ref name="lam">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S4KMkzh3tckC|title=Chinese Politics in the Hu Jintao Era|last=Lam|first=Willy Wo-Lap|author-link=Willy Lam|publisher=ME Sharpe|year=2006|isbn=0-7656-1773-0|page=31|access-date=21 May 2020|archive-date=13 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413161213/https://books.google.com/books?id=S4KMkzh3tckC|url-status=live}}</ref> While in Guizhou, Hu was careful to follow Beijing's directives and had a reputation of being "airtight"; he rarely would offer his views on policy matters in public.<ref name=lam/> While Hu was generally seen as an official with integrity and honesty, some locals preferred his predecessor [[Zhu Houze]]. In 1987, Hu Jintao handled the local students protest parallel to the [[Democracy Wall]] carefully, whereas in Beijing similar protests resulted in Hu Yaobang's forced resignation.

===Tenure in Tibet===
Hu Yaobang was purged by Deng Xiaoping in 1987 due to his 'liberal' tendencies, and his departure from the political scene was initially seen as unfavourable towards Hu Jintao, who drew criticism from party elder for failing to criticize the ousted reformer.<ref>Lam, 8</ref> In 1988, Hu Jintao was transferred to become Party Regional Committee secretary of the [[Tibet Autonomous Region]], while also taking on the role of [[Political commissar]] of the local [[People's Liberation Army]] units. This made Hu effectively the number-one figure in the vast, restive region.

[[1987–1989 Tibetan unrest|Increased clashes]] culminated in serious rioting in [[Lhasa]]'s core on 5 March 1989, five days before the 30th anniversary of the [[1959 Tibetan uprising]].<ref>Lam, 9</ref> What occurred after is a matter of dispute. Rioters accused the police of shooting them arbitrarily, and the police claimed that they had acted in self-defense. In addition, there was speculation that Hu delayed his orders to clamp down on the protesters until late into the evening, when the police chief was forced to act because the situation was spiraling out of control. The protesters were suppressed early into the next day, and Hu asked Beijing to declare [[martial law]] on 8 March.<ref name="Lam, p. 9">Lam, p. 9</ref>

Hu's role in the demonstrations and rioting on 5 March was never made clear. While it is general protocol that Hu must have at least implicitly approved the use of force against protesters, whether he actually gave orders throughout 5 March is a matter of debate.{{efn|[[Willy Lam]] accounts for Hu's actions on 5 March 1989 as a possible example of his high-level political cunning and shrewdness.<ref name="Lam, p. 9"/>}} Some diplomatic analysts linked Hu's use of force to the suppression of activists and students in [[1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre|Tiananmen Square]], which took place three months later. Whether Hu provided "inspiration" for the PLA on 4 June is a matter of debate, but it was clear that Hu's actions in Lhasa earned him unprecedented attention in the upper echelons of party power, including by "paramount leader" Deng Xiaoping.<ref name="Ewing, 2003" />

Martin Seiff of United Press International commented on Putin and Hu: "Both are tough and able authoritarians who had extensive experience of repressing dissent on their rise to the top."<ref>{{Cite book|title=Chinese politics in the Hu Jintao era : new leaders, new challenges|last=Wo-Lap.|first=Lam, Willy|date=2006|publisher=M.E. Sharpe|isbn=9780765617743|location=Armonk, N.Y.|pages=31|oclc=608483173|quote=QUOTE:   "Both are tough and able authoritarians who had extensive experience of repressing dissent on their rise to the top."}}</ref>

==Rise to power==
[[File:Hu Jintao during a defense meeting held at the Pentagon, May 2002, cropped.jpg|thumb|Hu Jintao during a defense meeting held at [[the Pentagon]], May 2002]]
Before the opening of the [[14th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party|14th National Congress of the CCP]] in 1992, senior party leaders, including Deng and [[Chen Yun]], were to select candidates for the [[Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party|CCP Politburo Standing Committee]] (PSC) to ensure a smooth transition of power from the so-called second-generation leaders (Deng, Chen, [[Li Xiannian]], [[Wang Zhen (general)|Wang Zhen]], etc.) to third-generation leaders ([[Jiang Zemin]], [[Li Peng]], [[Qiao Shi]] etc.). Deng also proposed considering another candidate for a further future transition, preferably someone under fifty to represent the next generation of leaders.<ref>Nathan & Gilley, pp.42-43</ref> [[Song Ping]], as the organization chief, recommended Hu as an ideal candidate for the prospect of a future leader. As a result, shortly before his 50th birthday, Hu Jintao became the youngest (aged 49 in October 1992) member of the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, and one of the youngest Politburo Standing Committee members since the Communist Party assumed power in 1949.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lei |first=Letian |date=2025-11-03 |title=Identifying China's Long 1980s |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/china-quarterly/article/identifying-chinas-long-1980s/0446BB58DB1093C34A3AA44773CA82BC#article |journal=The China Quarterly |language=en |pages=1–18 |doi=10.1017/S0305741025101471 |issn=0305-7410}}</ref>

In 1992, Hu became leading member of the [[Secretariat of the Chinese Communist Party]], which oversaw day-to-day operations of the [[Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party|CCP Central Committee]], and the Central Party School, which was convenient for him to bring up his own supporters among senior CCP cadres. Hu was also put in charge of the ideological work of the CCP. Although Hu was considered heir apparent to Jiang, he always took great care to ensure that Jiang be at the center of the spotlight. In late 1998, Hu promoted Jiang's unpopular movement of the "[[Three Stresses campaign|Three Stresses]]"{{spaced ndash}}"stress study, stress politics, and stress healthy trends"{{spaced ndash}}giving speeches to promote it. In 2001, he publicized Jiang's [[Three Represents]] theory, which Jiang hoped to place himself on the same level as other [[Marxist]] theoreticians.<ref>Nathan & Gilley, p. 84</ref> In 1998, Hu became vice president, and Jiang wanted Hu to play a more active role in foreign affairs. Hu became China's leading voice during the [[United States bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade]] in 1999.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2003-05-25/14421097103.shtml |language=zh-cn |script-title=zh:资料：1999年5月9日胡锦涛就我驻南使馆遭袭击发表讲话 |trans-title=Source: Hu Jintao delivered a speech on the attack on the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia on May 9, 1999 |publisher=[[Sina Corp]] |access-date=24 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124203424/http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2003-05-25/14421097103.shtml|archive-date=24 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Leadership==
{{See also|Hu–Wen Administration}}[[File:中國國家主席胡錦濤.jpg|thumb|left|Hu speaks as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President of China]]
On 15 November 2002, after the [[16th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party]], a new Hu Jintao-led Politburo nominally succeeded Jiang's, while Hu became the CCP general secretary, effectively making him the [[paramount leader]]. Additionally, [[Wen Jiabao]] became the premier. However, Jiang was re-elected to the post of [[Chairman of the Central Military Commission (China)|chairman of the Central Military Commission]], the top military body, despite Hu taking over as the general secretary.<ref>{{Cite thesis |title=胡錦濤與江澤民的權力分配與權力互動（2003.11-2004.9） |url=https://www.airitilibrary.com/Publication/alDetailedMesh1?DocID=U0002-1307201513580400 |publisher=淡江大學 |date=2015 |degree=Master's Thesis |doi=10.6846/tku.2015.00333 |language=zh |first=陳世 |last=豪 |access-date=28 October 2020 |archive-date=1 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101020222/https://www.airitilibrary.com/Publication/alDetailedMesh1?DocID=U0002-1307201513580400 |url-status=live}}</ref> Jiang resigned as CMC chairman in September 2004, his last official post. Following Jiang's stepping-down, Hu had officially taken on the three institutions in the People's Republic of China where power lie; the party, the state, as well as the [[People's Liberation Army|military]].

Although Jiang, then 76, stepped down as general secretary and from the Politburo Standing Committee to make way for a younger leadership, there was speculation that Jiang would retain significant influence because Hu was not associated with Jiang's influential [[Shanghai clique]], to which six out of the nine members of the all-powerful Standing Committee were believed to be linked. However, later developments show that many of its members had shifted their positions. [[Zeng Qinghong]], for example, moved from a disciple of Jiang to serving as an intermediary between the two factions.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wu |first=Zhong |date=7 February 2007 |title=Power in China: Through a glass, darkly |work=[[Asia Times]] |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/IB07Ad01.html |url-status=unfit |access-date=16 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709012943/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/IB07Ad01.html |archive-date=9 July 2008}}</ref>

Hu was mostly conservative on political reforms during his tenure.<ref>{{cite news |last=Luard |first=Tim |date=11 January 2005 |title=China's leader shows his stripes |work=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4165209.stm |url-status=live |access-date=13 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822154247/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4165209.stm |archive-date=22 August 2010}}</ref> In the beginning of 2006, Hu launched the "[[Eight Honors and Eight Shames]]" movement in a bid to promote a more selfless and moral outlook amongst the population.<ref name="Ewing, 2003" /> At the [[17th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party|17th CCP National Congress]], Hu was re-elected as general secretary of the Central Committee and chairman of the CCP Central Military Commission on 22 October 2007. At the [[11th National People's Congress]], Hu was re-elected as president on 15 March 2008. He was also re-elected as chairman of the PRC Central Military Commission.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 March 2008 |title=Hu Jintao reelected Chinese president |work=[[China Daily]] |agency=[[Xinhua News Agency]] |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008npc/2008-03/15/content_6539302.htm |access-date=7 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055352/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008npc/2008-03/15/content_6539302.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>

===Domestic policy===
====Healthcare====
The first crisis of Hu's leadership happened during the [[2002–2004 SARS outbreak|outbreak of SARS]] in 2003. Following strong criticism of China for initially covering up and responding slowly to the crisis, he dismissed several party and government officials, including the health minister, who supported Jiang, and the [[Mayor of Beijing]], [[Meng Xuenong]], widely perceived as Hu's protégé.<ref name="Ewing, 2003"/>

Hu's administration saw dramatic changes in China's healthcare system and a significant increase in healthcare coverage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Du |first=Harry |date=2018-08-29 |title=Is China's Health Care Meeting the Needs of its People? |url=https://chinapower.csis.org/china-health-care-quality/ |access-date=2025-10-26 |website=ChinaPower Project |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2002, the New Cooperative Medical Scheme was established to cover all of China's rural population with partial government subsidy to cover large hospital expenses; the rural population was estimated to be 900 million at the time. A few years later, the Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance was established to cover urban residents not covered by the Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance, which was established in 1994 and only included formal sector employees.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Yip |first=Winnie |last2=Hsiao |first2=William C. |date=2015-01-02 |title=What Drove the Cycles of Chinese Health System Reforms? |url=https://doi.org/10.4161/23288604.2014.995005 |journal=Health Systems & Reform |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=52–61 |doi=10.4161/23288604.2014.995005 |issn=2328-8604 |pmid=31519083}}</ref>

In 2009, the Chinese government announced plans to provide safe, efficient and affordable basic health care for all Chinese citizens by 2020. As part of the reforms, the government spent an additional $230 billion from 2009 to 2011 in order to expand insurance coverage and build healthcare infrastcture. By 2012, the three programs achieved some kind of healthcare coverage for 95% of the population,<ref name=":0" /> more than tripling from 2003. The benefit packages gradually expanded to cover 50 and 75% of expenditure for outpatient and hospitalizations, respectively.<ref name=":0" /> From 2002 to 2011, government spending on health per person increased from $19 to $155.<ref>{{Cite news |title=China-Style Obamacare for 1 Billion People Saves Toddler |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-09-10/china-style-obamacare-for-1-billion-people-saves-toddler |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210220070229/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-09-10/china-style-obamacare-for-1-billion-people-saves-toddler |archive-date=2021-02-20 |access-date=2025-10-26 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Hu Jintao and Barack Obama 2009.jpg|thumb|Hu talks with U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] at the [[2009 G20 Pittsburgh summit]]]]
[[File:George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush with Hu Jintao.jpg|thumb|right|Hu with U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] and former U.S. president [[George H. W. Bush]] in Beijing, 10 August 2008]]

====Economic policies====
Hu and [[Wen Jiabao]] took a more conservative approach towards reforms, and began to reverse some of Deng Xiaoping's reforms in 2005. Observers note that the government adopted more egalitarian and populist policies.<ref>{{harvnb|Naughton|2008|p=129}}</ref> The administration increased subsidies and control over the health care sector,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Ramzy |first=Austin |date=9 April 2009 |title=China's New Healthcare Could Cover Millions More |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |url=https://time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1890306,00.html |access-date=16 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826183344/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1890306,00.html |archive-date=26 August 2013}}</ref> increased funding for education, halted privatization,<ref name="scissors">{{cite journal |last1=Scissors |first1=Derek |date=May–June 2009 |title=Deng Undone: The Costs of Halting Market Reform in China |url=http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/64947/derek-scissors/deng-undone |url-status=live |journal=[[Foreign Affairs]] |volume=88 |issue=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150421035402/http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/64947/derek-scissors/deng-undone |archive-date=21 April 2015 |access-date=30 September 2014}}</ref> and adopted a loose monetary policy, which led to the formation of a U.S.-style property bubble in which property prices tripled.<ref>Chovanec, Patrick (8 June 2009). [http://www.feer.com/economics/2009/june53/Chinas-Real-Estate-Riddle "China's Real Estate Riddle"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614235233/http://www.feer.com/economics/2009/june53/Chinas-Real-Estate-Riddle|date=14 June 2009}}. ''Far East Economic Review''. Retrieved 13 March 2010.</ref>

The privileged state sector was the primary recipient of government investment, which, under the new administration, promoted the rise of large [[national champions]] which could compete with large foreign corporations.<ref name="scissors" /> During Hu's administration, the Chinese government increasingly funded the consolidation of [[State-owned enterprises of China|state-owned enterprises]] (SOEs), supplying massive subsidies and favoring SOEs in regulatory matters.<ref name=":9" />{{Rp|page=217}} These efforts helped SOEs to crowd out foreign and domestic private sector competitors.<ref name=":9" />{{Rp|page=217}} Nevertheless, the share of SOEs in the total number of companies have continued to fall, dropping to 5%, though their share of total output remained at 26%. Exchange rates for the yuan were also liberalized and the peg to the [[United States dollar|U.S. dollar]] was broken, leading the yuan to rise by 31% against the dollar from 2005 to 2012.<ref name=":27">{{Cite news |last=Orlik |first=Tom |date=16 November 2012 |title=Charting China's Economy: 10 Years Under Hu |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-CJB-16841 |access-date=7 June 2023}}</ref> China's economic growth has averaged around 10% under Hu, while the economy surpassed the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Japan.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 February 2011 |title=China overtakes Japan as world's second-biggest economy |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-12427321 |access-date=7 June 2023 |archive-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806095433/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-12427321 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":27" />

After taking over, Hu and Wen proposed to set up a [[Harmonious Society]] which aimed at lessening inequality and changing the style of the "GDP first and Welfare Second" policies.<ref name="Kuhn">{{cite web |title=Kuhn, Robert Lawrence: Hu's Political Philosophies |url=http://www.esnips.com/doc/907de9f2-a212-46b3-9efe-d23813bc03f3/Kuhn-Media-Press-Hu-Jintao.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325103630/http://www.esnips.com/doc/907de9f2-a212-46b3-9efe-d23813bc03f3/Kuhn-Media-Press-Hu-Jintao.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2009 |access-date=13 March 2010 |publisher=Esnips.com}}</ref> They focused on sectors of the Chinese population that had been left behind by the economic reform, and took a number of high-profile trips to the poorer areas of China with the stated goal of understanding these areas better. Hu and Wen Jiabao also attempted to move China away from a policy of favouring economic growth at all costs and toward a more balanced view of growth that includes factors in social inequality and environmental damage, including the use of the [[green gross domestic product]] in personnel decisions. Jiang's clique, however, maintained control in most developing areas; as a result, Hu and Wen's macroeconomic regulation measures faced great resistance.<ref name="Ewing, 2003" />

==== Media ====
In media policy, Hu discussed the idea of "channeling" public opinion, a term he first used in a 23 January 2007 Politburo meeting.<ref name=":Wang">{{Cite book |last=Wang |first=Frances Yaping |title=The Art of State Persuasion: China's Strategic Use of Media in Interstate Disputes |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2024 |isbn=9780197757512}}</ref>{{Rp|page=71}} Hu stated that the Party should "grasp the online discourse power, enhance our ability to channel [[Internet in China|online]] discussions, emphasize the art of 'channeling', actively leverage new technologies, increase positive coverage, and promote a positive mainstream discourse."<ref name=":Wang" />{{Rp|page=71}} In an online discussion via the Strong China Forum, Hu stated that China should "strengthen our [[Mass media in China|traditional media]] and new media and form a new setting for channeling public opinion".<ref name=":Wang" />{{Rp|pages=71–72}}

====Tibet====
{{Main|2008 Tibetan unrest}}

====Hong Kong====
{{Main|Democratic development in Hong Kong}}

[[File:2012七一遊行 3.jpg|thumb|Protests against Hu in [[Hong Kong]], July 2012]]

=== Foreign policy ===
{{See also|List of international trips made by Hu Jintao}}
[[File:Dmitry Medvedev in China 14 April 2011-2.jpeg|thumb|Hu with the leaders of the [[BRICS]] countries (from left, [[Manmohan Singh|Singh]], [[Dmitry Medvedev|Medvedev]], [[Dilma Rousseff|Rousseff]] and [[Jacob Zuma|Zuma]]) in April 2011]]
[[File:Secretary Clinton, VIce President Biden and Dr. Biden Co-Host a Luncheon in Honor of Chinese President Hu Jintao (5371703392).jpg|thumb|Hu at a 2011 luncheon with [[Vice President of the United States|U.S. Vice President]] [[Joe Biden]] and [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[Hillary Clinton]]]]
[[File:The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and the President of China, Mr. Hu Jintao in a press conference held by the leaders of five Outreach Countries (O5) during G-8 Summit, at Sapporo, Japan on July 08, 2008.jpg|thumb|Hu with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the [[34th G8 summit|2008 G8 Summit]], in [[Sapporo]], Japan]]
[[File:Hu Protest2 (5367462375).jpg|thumb|Protests against Hu during his 2011 U.S. visit]]
Throughout Hu's tenure, China's cooperation with [[Global North and Global South|global south]] countries increased.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Garlick |first=Jeremy |title=Advantage China: Agent of Change in an Era of Global Disruption |date=2024 |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Academic]] |isbn=978-1-350-25231-8}}</ref>{{Rp|page=79}} Under Hu's leadership, China continued its style of developmental diplomacy which had been adopted under Deng Xiaoping and continued by Jiang Zemin.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Zhao |first=Suisheng |title=The dragon roars back : transformational leaders and dynamics of Chinese foreign policy |date=2023 |publisher=[[Stanford University Press]] |isbn=978-1-5036-3415-2 |location=Stanford, California |pages=11 |oclc=1332788951}}</ref><ref name="Ewing, 2003" /> China's international behavior continued to be generally pragmatic and predictable.<ref name=":02" /> Hu pledged that China would seek peaceful development in a harmonious world to assure the international community that China's economic growth offered opportunities and benefits rather than conflicts.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Zhao |first=Suisheng |title=The dragon roars back : transformational leaders and dynamics of Chinese foreign policy |date=2022 |publisher=[[Stanford University Press]] |isbn=978-1-5036-3415-2 |location=Stanford, California |pages=51 |oclc=1332788951}}</ref> The key attributes of a harmonious world view of foreign policy are building and accepting a world where countries diverge in their paths of national development and political systems, coexistence of diverse civilizations, and rejected unilateralism and hegemonic ambitions.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zhao |first=Suisheng |title=The dragon roars back : transformational leaders and dynamics of Chinese foreign policy |date=2023 |publisher=[[Stanford University Press]] |isbn=978-1-5036-3088-8 |location=Stanford, California |pages=75 |oclc=1331741429 }}</ref>

Hu emphasized an international relations premise of "shared responsibility": China would contribute to global common good, but it must not adversely affect its [[China's core interests|core interests]] in doing so, and its commitments must be conditional to those of other nations.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zhao |first=Suisheng |title=The dragon roars back : transformational leaders and dynamics of Chinese foreign policy |date=2023 |publisher=[[Stanford University Press]] |isbn=978-1-5036-3088-8 |location=Stanford, California |pages=76 |oclc=1331741429}}</ref> In the analysis of academic [[Suisheng Zhao]], under Hu's leadership, "China remained a reluctant rising power and selectively took on global and regional obligations. Chinese foreign policy became omnidirectional, multilevel, and multidimensional."<ref name=":2" />

In 2006, Hu articulated the four phases of China's foreign policy developmental objectives: (1) big powers were the key, (2) periphery countries the priority, (3) developing countries the foundation, and (4) multilateralism the stage.<ref name=":2" /> In 2009, Chinese leader Hu Jintao called for a bolstered arms control agenda at the United Nations General Assembly, joining United States President [[Barack Obama]]'s earlier calls for a nuclear-free world.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zhao |first=Suisheng |title=The dragon roars back : transformational leaders and dynamics of Chinese foreign policy |date=2023 |publisher=[[Stanford University Press]] |isbn=978-1-5036-3088-8 |location=Stanford, California |pages=237 |oclc=1331741429 |author-link=Suisheng Zhao }}</ref> In 2009, the [[1st BRIC summit|first BRIC summit]] was held in Russia, including China, Brazil and India.<ref name=":8" />{{Rp|page=500}}

==== Asia ====
Hu sought to develop China's [[China–Japan relations|relationship with Japan]], which he visited in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spencer |first=Richard |date=6 May 2008 |title=China's President Hu Jintao visits Japan |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/1930258/Chinas-President-Hu-Jintao-visits-Japan.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022214958/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/1930258/Chinas-President-Hu-Jintao-visits-Japan.html |archive-date=22 October 2022 |access-date=22 October 2022 |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref>

==== Europe ====
Hu and Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] held their first meeting in December 2002. The two leaders met regularly, meeting face to face five or six times a year. Russian Prime Minister [[Dmitry Medvedev|Dimitry Medvedev]] and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also met regularly, with Wen quipping in 2007 that "We didn’t even use prepared speeches."<ref name=":8">{{Cite book |last=Snow |first=Philip |title=China and Russia: Four Centuries of Conflict and Concord |date=2023 |isbn=978-0300166651 |location=New Haven}}</ref>{{Rp|page=497}} China backed Russia in the [[Second Chechen War]] and regards to Russia's concerns of NATO expansion, while Russia backed China regarding the issues of Taiwan, [[Tibet Autonomous Region|Tibet]] and [[Xinjiang]]. The two countries also increasingly cooperated in the [[United Nations Security Council]].<ref name=":8" />{{Rp|page=499}}

During the [[Russo-Georgian War|2008 Russo-Georgian war]], China opposed Russia's infringement on Georgia's sovereignty.<ref name=":05">{{Cite book |last=Lampton |first=David M. |author-link=David M. Lampton |title=Living U.S.-China Relations: From Cold War to Cold War |date=2024 |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |isbn=978-1-5381-8725-8 |location=Lanham, MD |pages=}}</ref>{{Rp|page=347}} Citing principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and global order, China used its influence in the SCO to prevent the organization from supporting Russia.<ref name=":05" />{{Rp|page=347}} Hu downgraded relations with Russia because of unfulfilled deals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pei |first=Minxin |title=Chinese Foreign Policy After Hu |url=https://thediplomat.com/2011/07/chinese-foreign-policy-after-hu/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302204802/https://thediplomat.com/2011/07/chinese-foreign-policy-after-hu/ |archive-date=2 March 2021 |access-date=19 January 2020 |website=thediplomat.com}}</ref>

=== Taiwan ===
Early in his [[Hu–Wen Administration|leadership]], Hu faced a pro-independence counterpart in then [[Taiwan|Republic of China]] (ROC) president [[Chen Shui-bian]]. Chen called for talks without any preconditions, repudiating the [[1992 Consensus]]. Chen Shui-bian and the [[Democratic Progressive Party]] (DPP) had continued to express an ultimate goal of [[de jure]] [[Taiwanese independence]], and made statements on the [[political status of Taiwan]] that the PRC considers provocative. Hu's initial response was a combination of "soft" and "hard" approaches. On the one hand, Hu expressed a flexibility to negotiate on many issues of concern to Taiwan. On the other hand, he continued to refuse talks without preconditions and remained committed to [[Chinese unification]] as an ultimate goal. While Hu gave some signs of being more flexible with regard to political relationships with Taiwan as in his [[May 17 Statement]], where he offered to address the issue of "international living space" for Taiwan, Hu's government remained firm in its position that the PRC would not tolerate any attempt by the Taiwanese government to declare de jure independence from China.<ref name="Zhao Suisheng 2010" />

After Chen's re-election in 2004, Hu's government changed tactics, conducting a no-contact policy with Taiwan due to Chen and the DPP's independence leanings and repudiation of the 1992 consensus. The government maintained its military build-up against Taiwan, and pursued a vigorous policy of isolating Taiwan diplomatically. In March 2005, the [[Anti-Secession Law]] was passed by the [[National People's Congress]], formalizing "non-peaceful means" as an option of response to a declaration of independence in Taiwan.

Hu's government increased contacts with the [[Kuomintang]] (KMT), its former foe in the [[Chinese Civil War]], and still a major party in Taiwan.<ref name=":322">{{Cite book |last=Hammond |first=Ken |title=China's Revolution and the Quest for a Socialist Future |publisher=1804 Books |year=2023 |isbn=9781736850084 |location=New York, NY |pages=}}</ref>{{Rp|page=138}} The increased contacts culminated in the [[2005 Pan-Blue visits to mainland China]], including a historic meeting between Hu and then-KMT chairman [[Lien Chan]] in April 2005. This was the first meeting between the leaders of the two parties since the conclusion of World War II.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sisci |first=Francesco |date=5 April 2005 |title=Strange cross-Taiwan Strait bedfellows |work=[[Asia Times]] |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/GD05Ad08.html |url-status=unfit |access-date=15 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512150111/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/GD05Ad08.html |archive-date=12 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Zhong |first=Wu |date=29 March 2005 |title=KMT makes China return in historic trip to ease tensions |work=The Standard |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Front_Page/GC29Aa02.html |url-status=dead |access-date=16 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602220112/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Front_Page/GC29Aa02.html |archive-date=2 June 2008}}</ref>

On 20 March 2008, the Kuomintang under [[Ma Ying-jeou]] won the presidency in Taiwan, and a majority in the [[Legislative Yuan]]. Thereafter Hu immediately turned to a more 'soft' diplomatic approach and opened the way to a thaw in relations between the two sides.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sisci |first=Francesco |date=28 June 2006 |title=Hu Jintao and the new China |work=[[Asia Times]] |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/HF28Ad01.html |url-status=unfit |access-date=15 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706184832/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/HF28Ad01.html |archive-date=6 July 2008}}</ref> A series of historic meetings between the CCP and KMT have followed. On 12 April 2008, Hu Jintao met with Taiwan's vice president-elect [[Vincent Siew]] in the latter's role as chairman of the Cross-strait Common Market Foundation during the [[Boao Forum for Asia]]. On 28 May 2008, Hu met with KMT chairman [[Wu Po-hsiung]], the first meeting between the heads of the CCP and the KMT as ruling parties. During this meeting, Hu and Wu agreed that both sides should re-commence official dialogue under the 1992 consensus &ndash; that "both sides recognize there is only one China, but agree to differ on its definition." Wu committed the new government in Taiwan against Taiwanese independence; Hu committed his government to addressing the concerns of the Taiwanese people in regard to security, dignity, and "international living space", with a priority given to allowing Taiwan to participate in the [[World Health Organization]].

In addition to the party-to-party dialogue, de facto governmental dialogue took place via the [[Straits Exchange Foundation]] and the [[Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits]] in June 2008 on the basis of the 1992 Consensus, with the first meeting held in Beijing. Both Hu and his new counterpart [[Ma Ying-jeou]] agreed that the 1992 Consensus is the basis for negotiations between the two sides of the Taiwan strait. On 26 March 2008, Hu Jintao held a telephone talk with then US president [[George W. Bush]], in which he became the first Chinese leader to officially recognize the 1992 Consensus.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 March 2008 |title=Chinese, U.S. presidents hold telephone talks on Taiwan, Tibet |publisher=Xinhuanet |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/27/content_7865209.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=15 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512002546/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/27/content_7865209.htm |archive-date=12 May 2008}}</ref> After several months of negotiations, in December 2008, the two sides agreed on the resumption of the [[Three Links]], i.e., a re-opening of mail, trade, and direct air links between the two sides. Relations continued to be cordial between the two sides during Hu's tenure, and trade increased immensely, culminating in the signing of the preferential trade agreement [[Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement]] (ECFA) in 2010.

===Transition to Xi===
{{Main|18th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party}}

{{See also|12th National People's Congress}}
On 15 November 2012, immediately after the [[18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party|18th CCP National Congress]], Xi was elected to the posts of general secretary of the CCP and chairman of the CMC by the 18th Central Committee, succeeding Hu.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 November 2012 |title=China Confirms Leadership Change |work=[[BBC News]] |publisher= |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-20322288 |access-date=15 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729201558/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-20322288 |archive-date=29 July 2016}}</ref> On 14 March 2013, he was succeeded by Xi as president.<ref>{{cite news |last=Demick |first=Barbara |author-link=Barbara Demick |date=13 March 2013 |title=China's Xi Jinping formally assumes title of president |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-china-xi-presidency-20130313,0,1240600.story |url-status=live |access-date=16 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316021753/http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-china-xi-presidency-20130313,0,1240600.story |archive-date=16 March 2013}}</ref>

==After retirement==
Since his retirement, Hu has kept a low-profile, rarely making public appearances. In September 2013, Hu visited an ancestral family home in [[Huangshan]], Anhui, though the trip was not covered by state media.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Boehler |first=Patrick |date=13 September 2013 |title=Social media records rare public appearance of former president Hu Jintao |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china-insider/article/1309019/social-media-records-rare-public-appearance-former-president-hu |access-date=30 September 2023 |archive-date=12 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012181608/https://www.scmp.com/news/china-insider/article/1309019/social-media-records-rare-public-appearance-former-president-hu |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2014, he made an appearance in Hunan, visiting [[Hunan University]] and other historical sites.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chen |first=Andrea |date=10 April 2014 |title=Retired president Hu Jintao makes rare public appearance in Hunan |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1472268/retired-president-hu-jintao-makes-rare-public-appearance-hunan |access-date=30 September 2023}}</ref> He attended the [[19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party|19th CCP National Congress]] in October 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Choi |first=Chi-yuk |date=18 October 2017 |title=Long time no see: elder statesmen make rare public appearance at China's top table |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2115948/elder-statesmen-make-rare-public-appearance-chinas-top |access-date=30 September 2023}}</ref> He also attended the [[70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China]] in October 2019, and the [[100th Anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party|100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party]] in July 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mai |first=Jun |date=1 July 2021 |title=China's Communist Party sticks to the script on a day for young and old |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3139499/chinas-communist-party-sticks-script-day-young-and-old |access-date=30 September 2023 |archive-date=12 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012181557/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3139499/chinas-communist-party-sticks-script-day-young-and-old |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 20th Communist Party Congress ===
{{main|Hu Jintao removal incident}}

At the closing ceremony of the [[20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party|20th CCP National Congress]] on 22 October 2022, Hu, who had been sitting next to Xi, was [[Hu Jintao removal incident|pulled from his seat and escorted out of the hall]] by two men in suits and with name badges.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Graham-Harrison |first1=Emma |last2=Davidson |first2=Helen |date=22 October 2022 |title=Former Chinese president Hu Jintao unexpectedly led out of party congress |website=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/22/former-chinese-president-hu-jintao-unexpectedly-led-out-of-party-congress |url-status=live |access-date=22 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022194725/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/22/former-chinese-president-hu-jintao-unexpectedly-led-out-of-party-congress |archive-date=22 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=22 October 2022 |title=Hu Jintao escorted out of China party congress |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/former-chinese-president-hu-jintao-escorted-out-party-congress-2022-10-22/ |url-status=live |access-date=22 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022191231/https://www.reuters.com/world/china/former-chinese-president-hu-jintao-escorted-out-party-congress-2022-10-22/ |archive-date=22 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Areddy |first=James T. |title=Hu Jintao's Exit from China's Party Congress Causes a Stir |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/hu-jintaos-exit-from-chinas-party-congress-causes-a-stir-11666450539 |url-status=live |access-date=22 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027144844/https://www.wsj.com/articles/hu-jintaos-exit-from-chinas-party-congress-causes-a-stir-11666450539 |archive-date=27 October 2022}}</ref> This incident occurred before the votes that day, which Hu was absent from as a result.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 October 2022 |title=二十大闭幕 大会表决通过中委中纪委报告及党章修正案 - RTHK |language=zh |website=[[Radio Television Hong Kong]] |url=https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1672180-20221022.htm?spTabChangeable=0 |url-status=live |access-date=22 October 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221022225150/https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1672180-20221022.htm?spTabChangeable=0 |archive-date=22 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=李 |first=宗芳 |date=22 October 2022 |title=影/中共20大/閉幕表決胡錦濤中場離席 依舊不見江澤民出席 {{!}} 中天新聞網 |website=[[CTi News]] |url=https://www.ctinews.com/news/items/gzaeA9wEam |url-status=live |access-date=22 October 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221022224916/https://www.ctinews.com/news/items/gzaeA9wEam |archive-date=22 October 2022}}</ref> [[Xinhua News Agency]], China's official press agency, stated that Hu was not feeling well,<ref>{{Cite news |last=McDonell |first=Stephen |date=22 October 2022 |title=Hu Jintao: The mysterious exit of China's former leader from party congress |website=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-63358627 |url-status=live |access-date=22 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022192158/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-63358627 |archive-date=22 October 2022}}</ref> while foreign news speculated about whether Hu was genuinely sick or whether this was a deliberate political signal by Xi.<ref name=":03">{{Cite news |last=Palmer |first=James |date=22 October 2022 |title=What the Hell Just Happened to Hu Jintao? |newspaper=[[Foreign Policy]] |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/10/22/china-xi-jinping-hu-jintao-ccp-congress/ |url-status=live |access-date=22 October 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221022163847/https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/10/22/china-xi-jinping-hu-jintao-ccp-congress/ |archive-date=22 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=28 October 2022 |title=Was Hu Jintao's removal from China's 20th party congress suspicious or not? |author-first1=Helen|author-last1=Davidson|website=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/28/china-hu-jintao-removal-20th-party-congress-suspicious-or-not |url-status=live |access-date=28 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206221809/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/28/china-hu-jintao-removal-20th-party-congress-suspicious-or-not |archive-date=6 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Xi Jinping has surrounded himself with loyalists |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/china/2022/10/27/xi-jinping-has-surrounded-himself-with-loyalists |url-status=live |access-date=28 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028083105/https://www.economist.com/china/2022/10/27/xi-jinping-has-surrounded-himself-with-loyalists |archive-date=28 October 2022}}</ref> The incident was not broadcast in China and both Hu's and his son's names were blocked by Chinese censors.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 October 2022 |title=Hu Jintao argued about official papers before being escorted out of congress |website=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/25/hu-jintao-argued-about-official-papers-before-being-escorted-out-of-congress |url-status=live |access-date=26 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027205200/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/25/hu-jintao-argued-about-official-papers-before-being-escorted-out-of-congress |archive-date=27 October 2022|author-first1=Emma|author-last1=Graham-Harrison}}</ref>

=== Jiang Zemin's funeral ===
Following the [[Death and state funeral of Jiang Zemin|death]] of his predecessor [[Jiang Zemin]], Hu was appointed to serve on the funeral committee, ranked 36th on the list out of over 700 names.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news |date=5 December 2022 |title=江泽民遗体北京八宝山火化 习近平胡锦涛等到场送别 |trans-title=Jiang Zemin's Body Cremated in Babaoshan, Beijing, Xi Jinping, Hu Jintao and Other Officials Attended the Farewell |work=Zaobao |url=https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20221205-1340592 |access-date=5 December 2022 |archive-date=5 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205091429/https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20221205-1340592 |url-status=live }}</ref> Hu Jintao appeared in public alongside Xi Jinping on 5 December 2022, attending the farewell ceremony before Jiang's body was cremated in [[Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery]].<ref name="auto"/> He was accompanied by an aide.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}

==Legacy==
Hu presided over a decade of consistent economic growth, led China through the [[2008 financial crisis]] relatively unscathed, and increased China's international stature immensely.<ref name="chengli">{{cite journal |last=Li |first=Cheng |author2=Eve Cary |date=20 December 2011 |title=The Last Year of Hu's Leadership: Hu's to Blame? |url=http://www.jamestown.org/programs/chinabrief/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=38811&cHash=c0006cd99bfe551991fcf1924d37c0cf |url-status=live |journal=[[Jamestown Foundation]]: China Brief |volume=11 |issue=23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530050317/http://www.jamestown.org/programs/chinabrief/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=38811&cHash=c0006cd99bfe551991fcf1924d37c0cf |archive-date=30 May 2013 |access-date=2 January 2012}}</ref> China's achievements under Hu included modernizing China's infrastructure, launching China's first crewed space probe, and sponsoring two successful international events: the [[2008 Beijing Olympics]] and the [[Expo 2010|2010 Shanghai Expo]].<ref name=chengli/> In addition, Hu's "soft approach" to Taiwan, coinciding with the election of a [[Kuomintang]] government in Taipei, improved the [[Cross-strait relations|relationship between mainland China and Taiwan]]. Trade and contact between the two sides increased significantly during Hu's tenure. In addition, Hu and Premier [[Wen Jiabao]]'s populist policies have resulted in the elimination of agricultural taxes for farmers, more flexible policies towards migrant workers living in cities, more balanced development between the coastal regions and the hinterlands, enforcing minimum wage in cities and the promotion of sustainable and affordable housing developments. The response to the [[SARS]] public health crisis and the massive expansion of [[Healthcare reform in China|health insurance coverage]] for middle- to low-income citizens earned Hu accolades domestically. These policies have been well received by the Chinese public.<ref name=wanglei>{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Lei|script-title=zh:胡锦涛时代遗患 为官不为遭炮轰|url=http://opinion.dwnews.com/news/2015-03-16/59641567.html|work=Duowei News|language=zh-hans|date=16 March 2015|access-date=17 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319195513/http://opinion.dwnews.com/news/2015-03-16/59641567.html|archive-date=19 March 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

In foreign policy, Hu's critics say that his government was overly aggressive in asserting its new power, overestimated its reach, and raised the ire and apprehension of various neighbours, including Southeast Asian countries, India, and Japan. Such policies are also said to be provocative towards the United States.<ref name=econo>{{cite news|title=America in the Asia-Pacific: We're back|url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2011/11/19/were-back|access-date=2 January 2012|newspaper=The Economist|date=19 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120101111329/http://www.economist.com/node/21538803|archive-date=1 January 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Domestic critics, including the country's elites, intellectuals, and particularly dissidents, point to various shortcomings of the Hu administration and his failure in implementing his signature "Socialist Harmonious Society" policy. They cite, for example, that China's internal security budget exceeded its military budget during Hu's tenure as protests and other 'mass incidents' continued to increase across the country.<ref name=talkchange>{{cite news|last=Wines|first=Michael|title=As China Talks of Change, Fear Rises on the Risks|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/18/world/asia/as-china-talks-of-change-fear-rises-on-risks.html |access-date=18 July 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=17 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727020910/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/18/world/asia/as-china-talks-of-change-fear-rises-on-risks.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all|archive-date=27 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> China's [[Gini coefficient]] climbed to 0.47 by 2010, indicating a potentially unsustainable gap between the rich and the poor.<ref name=chengli/> The Hu administration's inability to rein in the [[wealth gap]] and its renewed emphasis on the role of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the economy led some economists to believe that Hu missed a critical opportunity for reform and structural adjustment.<ref>{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Ian|title=On Way Out, China's Leader Offers Praise for the Status Quo|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/09/world/asia/hu-jintao-exiting-communist-leader-cautions-china.html |access-date=16 November 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=8 November 2012|author2=Keith Bradshear|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115190405/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/09/world/asia/hu-jintao-exiting-communist-leader-cautions-china.html?pagewanted=all|archive-date=15 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Hu's increased support for SOEs, including to merger and consolidate, is a trend that has continued during the administration of Xi Jinping.<ref name=":9" />{{Rp|page=217}}

Hu's tough-on-corruption policies saw mixed results. While there were some attempts to increase transparency in the expenditures of official organs and bureaucrats, deeply entrenched systemic issues that were contributing to the growth of corruption remained unresolved. In addition, the massive corruption scandal that ensnared the military shortly after Hu's departure from office showed that Hu was unable to tackle entrenched interests in the military. In his own departing speech at the 18th Party Congress, Hu emphasized the potentially devastating effects that unchecked corruption would have on the party and the country. Moreover, the Hu administration's insistence on censorship and the curtailing of freedom of speech drew extensive criticism from human rights organizations and Western governments,<ref name=chengli/> while artists and writers inside the country chided increased restrictions on cultural expressions during Hu's term. Although in the early years of his tenure Hu attempted to pioneer a form of "intraparty democracy" that called for greater participation from lower-ranked members to determine policy and select the leadership, there was little evidence of meaningful changes to the party's governing structure and decision-making process.<ref name=talkchange/> His focus on intraparty democracy did result in the Politburo work report system and the invitation of approximately 200 members of the Central Committee to cast nonbinding votes for Politburo candidates.<ref name=":Tsang&Cheung">{{Cite book |last1=Tsang |first1=Steve |author-link=Steve Chang |title=The Political Thought of Xi Jinping |last2=Cheung |first2=Olivia |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2024 |isbn=9780197689363}}</ref>{{Rp|page=67}}

Consensus-based decision-making became a hallmark of the Hu era.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Elegant |first=Simon |date=4 October 2007 |title=In China, Hu is the Man to See |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1668457,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619115625/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1668457,00.html |archive-date=19 June 2010 |access-date=13 March 2010 |magazine=Time}}</ref> Hu was never a strongman, did not rule with an iron fist, and was often seen as first-among-equals with his [[Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party|Politburo Standing Committee]] colleagues. Some called China's political landscape during Hu's era one of "nine dragons taming the water" ({{lang-zh|s=九龙治水|labels=no}}), that is, nine PSC members each ruling over their own fief. In addition, Hu not only faced a profusion of special interest groups and political factions within the party, his ability to implement a cohesive program was also constrained by the influence of former leader [[Jiang Zemin]].<ref name=hujintao>{{cite news|last1=Zhang|first1=Guangzhao|script-title=zh:公正评价胡锦涛的十年|url=http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001047627?full=y|work=Financial Times Chinese|language=zh-hans|date=21 December 2012|access-date=17 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402162147/http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001047627?full=y|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Consequently, there is debate on how much power Hu held personally to effect change. Nevertheless, within the context of the system he was placed in, Hu was credited for being an effective mediator and consensus-builder.<ref name=chengli/> Hu also won praise for stepping down as military chief in favour of his successor Xi Jinping, and at the same time relinquishing his position as general secretary. This was seen as a message to the establishment and Jiang Zemin that elders should retire according to protocol and avoid meddling in the affairs of their successors.<ref name=luotui>{{cite news |last1=Jia |first1=Qi |script-title=zh:如何正确评价胡锦涛裸退的历史意义 |trans-title=How to correctly evaluate the historical significance of Hu Jintao's complete resignation |url=http://history.dwnews.com/news/2014-12-26/59626298.html |work=Duowei News |language=zh-hans |access-date=17 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402182932/http://history.dwnews.com/news/2014-12-26/59626298.html |archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> His administration was known for its focus more on [[Technocracy|technocratic]] competence.<ref name="brown">{{cite journal |last=Brown |first=Kerry |date=10 July 2011 |title=Chinese leadership: The challenge in 2012 |url=http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/07/10/chinese-leadership-the-challenge-in-2012 |url-status=live |journal=East Asia Forum Quarterly |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=4–5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822073822/http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/07/10/chinese-leadership-the-challenge-in-2012/ |archive-date=22 August 2011 |access-date=19 August 2011}}</ref>

==Political positions==

===Scientific Outlook on Development===
{{main|Scientific Outlook on Development}}

Political observers indicate that Hu distinguished himself from his predecessor in both domestic and foreign policy. Hu's political philosophy during his leadership is summarized by three slogans — a "[[Harmonious Society|Harmonious Socialist Society]]" domestically and "Peaceful Development" internationally, the former aided by the [[Scientific Outlook on Development|Scientific Development Concept]], which seeks integrated sets of solutions to arrays of economic, environmental and social problems, and recognizes, in inner circles, a need for cautious and gradual political reforms.<ref name=Kuhn/> The Scientific Outlook on Development was written into the CCP and State Constitutions in [[17th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party|2007]] and [[2008 National People's Congress|2008]], respectively. The role of the Party has changed, as formulated by [[Deng Xiaoping]] and implemented by [[Jiang Zemin]], from a revolutionary party to a ruling party. During his tenure he continued the Party's modernization, calling for both "Advancement" of the Party and its increasing transparency in governance.

What emerges from these philosophies, in Hu's view, is a country with a systematic approach to national structure and development that combines dynamic economic growth, a free market energized by a vigorous "nonpublic" (i.e., private) sector, heavy-handed political and media control, personal but not political freedoms, concern for the welfare of all citizens, cultural enlightenment, and a synergistic approach to diverse social issues (the Scientific Development Perspective) that lead, in Hu's vision, to a "Harmonious Socialist Society". In the view of the Chinese government, these philosophies, which have created a new "China Model" of governance, serve as a legitimate alternative to the West's "Democracy Model", particularly for developing countries. In Hu's words, "A Harmonious Socialist Society should feature democracy, the rule of law, equity, justice, sincerity, amity and vitality."<ref name=Kuhn/> Such a society, he says, will give full scope to people's talent and creativity, enable all the people to share the social wealth brought by reform and development, and forge an ever-closer relationship between the people and government. Hu even emphasized the potential of religious communities to contribute to economic and social development under the banner of "Building a Harmonious Socialist Society."<ref name="georgetown1">{{cite web|url=http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/resources/countries/china |title=China |publisher=[[Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs]] |access-date=14 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316102321/http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/resources/countries/china |archive-date=16 March 2013 }} See drop-down essay on "An Era of Opening"</ref>

Some observers attribute the political origins of low-carbon development strategy to Hu's Scientific Outlook on Development, although some industrial support in this area had already begun before Hu's formulation of the Scientific Outlook on Development.<ref name=":32">{{Cite book |last=Lewis |first=Joanna I. |title=Cooperating for the Climate: Learning from International Partnerships in China's Clean Energy Sector |date=2023 |publisher=The [[MIT Press]] |isbn=978-0-262-54482-5 |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts}}</ref>{{Rp|page=23}}

Western criticism of Hu, particularly regarding human rights, exposes his hypersensitivity to social stability but does not lay as much emphasis on his fresh commitment to address China's [[Social issues in China|multi-faceted social problems]].<ref name=Kuhn/> Hu's pragmatic, non-ideological agenda had two core values—maintaining social stability to further economic development and sustaining Chinese culture to enrich national sovereignty. In domestic policy, he seems to want more openness to the public on governmental functions and meetings. Recently, China's news agency published many Politburo Standing Committee meeting details. He also cancelled many events that are traditionally practiced, such as the lavish send-off and welcoming-back ceremonies of Chinese leaders when visiting foreign lands. Furthermore, the Chinese leadership under Hu also focused on such problems as the gap between rich and poor and uneven development between the interior and coastal regions. Both party and state seem to have moved away from a definition of development that focuses solely on [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] growth and toward a definition which includes social equality and environment effects.<ref name="Zhao Suisheng 2010">Zhao Suisheng, "Chinese foreign policy under Hu Jintao: The struggle between low-profile policy and diplomatic activism." ''Hague Journal of Diplomacy'' 5.4 (2010): 357-378.</ref>

In June 2007, Hu gave an important speech at the [[Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party|Central Party School]] that was indicative of his position of power and his guiding philosophies. In the speech Hu used a very populist tone to appeal to ordinary Chinese, making serious note of the recent challenges China was facing, especially with regards to income disparity. In addition, Hu noted the need for "increased democracy" in the country.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Democratization in China, Korea and Southeast Asia?: Local and National Perspectives (Politics in Asia)|last=Zhou|first=Kate Xiao|publisher=Routledge; 1 edition}}</ref>

===Moral guidance===
In response to the great number of social problems in China, in March 2006, Hu Jintao released the "[[Eight Honors and Eight Shames]]" as a set of moral codes to be followed by the Chinese people, and emphasized the need to spread the message to the youth.<ref>{{cite news |script-title=zh:胡锦涛关于“八荣八耻”的论述 |trans-title=Hu Jintao regarding 'The eight honors and eight shames' |language=zh-hans |publisher=[[Sohu]] |date=20 March 2006 |url=http://news.sohu.com/20060320/n242378439.shtml |access-date=16 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104232609/http://news.sohu.com/20060320/n242378439.shtml |archive-date=4 January 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> Alternatively known as the "Eight Honors and Disgraces", it contained eight poetic lines which summarized what a good citizen should regard as an honor and what to regard as a shame. It has been widely regarded as one of Hu Jintao's ideological solutions to the perceived increasing lack of morality in China after [[Chinese economic reform]]s brought in a generation of Chinese predominantly concerned with earning money and power in an increasingly frail social fabric.<ref>Alice Miller, "Hu Jintao and the sixth Plenum." ''China Leadership Monitor'' 20 (2007): 1-12. [https://www.hoover.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/clm20am.pdf online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929193716/https://www.hoover.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/clm20am.pdf |date=29 September 2019 }}</ref>

It has become a norm for Chinese communist leaders to make their own contributions to [[Marxism–Leninism|Marxist–Leninist theory]]. Whether this is Hu's contribution to Marxist–Leninist theory is debatable, but its general reception with the Chinese public has been moderate. Its promotion, however, is visible almost everywhere: in classroom posters, banners on the street, and electronic display boards for the preparation of the 2008 Olympics, and [[Expo 2010]] in Shanghai. The codes differ from the ideologies of his predecessors, namely, Jiang's Three Represents, [[Deng Xiaoping Theory]], and [[Maoism|Mao Zedong Thought]] in that the focus, for the first time, has been shifted to codifying moral standards as opposed to setting social or economic goals.<ref>Guoxin Xing, "Hu Jintao's Political Thinking and Legitimacy Building: A Post-Marxist Perspective." ''Asian Affairs'' 36.4 (2009): 213-226.</ref>

== Public image ==
''Newsweek'' named Hu the second most powerful person in the world in 2009, referring to him as "the man behind the wheel of the [[Economy of China|world's most supercharged economy]]."<ref>{{cite web |date=5 January 2009 |title=The NEWSWEEK 50: Chinese President Hu Jintao |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/176298 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327225724/http://www.newsweek.com/id/176298 |archive-date=27 March 2010 |access-date=13 March 2010 |work=Newsweek}}</ref> ''[[Forbes]]'' also named him the second most powerful person in the world later that year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Noer |first1=Michael |last2=Perlroth |first2=Nicole |date=11 November 2009 |title=The World's Most Powerful People |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/11/11/worlds-most-powerful-leadership-power-09-people_land.html |url-status=live |access-date=13 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113185034/http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/11/worlds-most-powerful-leadership-power-09-people_land.html |archive-date=13 November 2009}}</ref> Hu was named the 2010 [[Forbes list of the World's Most Powerful People|World's Most Powerful Person]] by ''[[Forbes|Forbes Magazine]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Perlroth |first=Nicole |date=3 November 2010 |title=The Most Powerful People On Earth |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/2010/11/01/obama-china-power-opinions-powerful-people-10-intro.html |url-status=live |access-date=4 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415160341/https://www.forbes.com/2010/11/01/obama-china-power-opinions-powerful-people-10-intro.html |archive-date=15 April 2019}}</ref> Hu was listed four times (2008, 2007, 2005 and 2004) on the [[Time 100]] annual list of most influential people. In 2010, [[Reporters Without Borders]], an international non-profit and non-governmental organization with the stated aim of safeguarding the right to freedom of information, included Hu among the list of [[press freedom predator]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/reporters-without-borders-puts-russias-putin-chinas-hu-on-list-of-press-predators|title=Reporters Without Borders puts Russia's Putin, China's Hu on list of press 'predators'|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Fox News|date=3 May 2010|access-date=1 November 2023|archive-date=1 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101082628/https://www.foxnews.com/world/reporters-without-borders-puts-russias-putin-chinas-hu-on-list-of-press-predators|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
* {{flag|Colombia}}: Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit (21 January 1997)<ref>{{cite web |date=23 January 1997 |title=胡锦涛会见哥自由党领导人 |url=http://rdbk1.ynlib.cn:6251/qw/Paper/52537 |url-status= |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221031154947/http://rdbk1.ynlib.cn:6251/qw/Paper/52537 |archive-date=31 October 2022 |access-date=22 October 2022 |website=Yunnan Provincial Library |publisher=People's Daily |location=Beijing |language=zh |publication-date=21 January 1991}}</ref>
* {{flag|Cuba}}: [[Order of José Martí|Member of the Order of José Martí]] (23 November 2004)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Xinhua News Agency |script-title=zh:卡斯特罗表示古巴钦佩传奇和革命的中国 |trans-title=Castro says Cuba admires legendary and revolutionary China |url=http://news.sina.com.cn/w/2004-11-25/11014343578s.shtml#:~:text=%E5%9C%A8%E4%BB%8A%E5%A4%A9%E5%90%91%E8%83%A1%E9%94%A6%E6%B6%9B%E4%B8%BB%E5%B8%AD%E9%A2%81%E5%8F%91%E4%BD%95%E5%A1%9E%C2%B7%E9%A9%AC%E8%92%82%E5%8B%8B%E7%AB%A0%E7%9A%84%E4%BB%AA%E5%BC%8F%E4%B8%8A%EF%BC%8C%E8%8F%B2%E5%BE%B7%E5%B0%94%C2%B7%E5%8D%A1%E6%96%AF%E7%89%B9%E7%BD%97%E4%B8%BB%E5%B8%AD%E8%AF%B4%EF%BC%8C%E7%9B%AE%E5%89%8D%E7%9A%84%E6%94%BF%E6%B2%BB%E5%85%B3%E7%B3%BB%E6%98%AF%E2%80%9C%E4%B8%A4%E4%B8%AA%E5%9D%9A%E6%8C%81%E7%A4%BE%E4%BC%9A%E4%B8%BB%E4%B9%89%E7%90%86%E6%83%B3%E7%9A%84%E5%9B%BD%E5%AE%B6%E4%B9%8B%E9%97%B4%E9%80%8F%E6%98%8E%E4%B8%8E%E5%92%8C%E5%B9%B3%E5%90%88%E4%BD%9C%E7%9A%84%E5%85%B8%E8%8C%83%E2%80%9D%E3%80%82 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022213445/http://news.sina.com.cn/w/2004-11-25/11014343578s.shtml |archive-date=22 October 2022 |access-date=22 October 2022 |website=news.sina.com.cn}}</ref>
* {{flag|Jordan}}: [[Supreme Order of the Renaissance|Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance]] (14 January 2001)<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.people.com.cn/GB/paper39/2462/376935.html|title= 阿卜杜拉二世会见胡锦涛 胡锦涛离约旦抵塞浦路斯|newspaper=People's Daily|access-date=23 October 2022 |archive-date= 12 May 2004|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040512183639/http://www.people.com.cn/GB/paper39/2462/376935.html|url-status= dead}}</ref>
* {{flag|Madagascar}}: [[National Order of Madagascar|Grand Cordon of the National Order of Madagascar]] (25 January 1999)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com.cn/item/ldhd/hujint/1999/chufang/1999jiana/cf0001.html|title= 圆满结束马达加斯加之行开始对加纳访问 胡锦涛副主席抵达阿克拉 (附图片)|newspaper=People's Daily|access-date=23 October 2022 |archive-date= 17 January 2004|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040117035121/http://www.people.com.cn/item/ldhd/hujint/1999/chufang/1999jiana/cf0001.html|url-status= dead}}</ref>
* {{flag|Pakistan}}: [[Nishan-e-Pakistan]] (24 November 2006)<ref>{{cite web |agency=Reuters |date=24 November 2006 |title=President Hu presented Pakistan's highest civilian award |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-11/24/content_742500.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022213625/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-11/24/content_742500.htm |archive-date=22 October 2022|access-date=22 October 2022 |work=China Daily}}</ref>
* {{flag|Peru}}: [[Order of the Sun of Peru|Grand Cross of Order of the Sun of Peru]] (19 November 2008)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.ifeng.com/photo/news/200811/1120_1397_887843.shtml|title= 胡锦涛访问秘鲁接受十字勋章[组图]|newspaper=news.ifeng.com|access-date=23 October 2022 |archive-date= 23 July 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190723100957/http://news.ifeng.com/photo/news/200811/1120_1397_887843.shtml|url-status= dead}}</ref>
* {{flag|Turkmenistan}}: [[Order of Saparmyrat Türkmenbaşy the Great|Member of the Order of Saparmyrat Türkmenbaşy the Great]] (29 August 2008)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.centrasia.ru/newsA.php?st=1220247180|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420045505/http://www.centrasia.ru/newsA.php?st=1220247180|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 April 2017|title=Г.Бердымухамедов одарил Ху Цзиньтао раритетным орденом "Первый Президент Туркменистана Великий Сапармурат Туркменбаши"|newspaper=centrasia.ru|access-date= 11 July 2021}}</ref>
* {{flag|Ukraine}}: [[Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise|Member 1st Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise]] (31 August 2010)<ref>{{cite web |last=Yanukovych |first=Viktor |date=31 August 2010 |title=Про нагородження орденом князя Ярослава Мудрого |url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/885/2010#Text |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022213851/https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/885/2010 |archive-date=22 October 2022 |access-date=11 July 2021 |website=[[Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine]]}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|China|Biography|Politics}}
* [[History of the People's Republic of China (2002–present)]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Works cited===
* Ewing, Richard Daniel. "Hu Jintao: The Making of a Chinese General Secretary." ''China Quarterly'' 173 (2003): 17–34. [https://library.fes.de/libalt/journals/swetsfulltext/15995942.pdf online] 
* Lam, Willy. ''Chinese politics in the Hu Jintao era: New leaders, new challenges'' (Routledge, 2016).
* Miller, Alice. "Hu Jintao and the Sixth Plenum". ''China Leadership Monitor'' 20 (2007): 1–12. [https://www.hoover.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/clm20am.pdf online]
*{{Cite book |last=Nathan |first=Andrew J. |author2=Gilley, Bruce |title=China's new rulers: the secret files |date = March 2003 |publisher=New York Review of Books |isbn=1-59017-072-5}}
* Xing, Guoxin. "Hu Jintao's Political Thinking and Legitimacy Building: A Post-Marxist Perspective". ''Asian Affairs'' 36.4 (2009): 213–226. [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Guoxin_Xing/publication/249037902_Hu_Jintao's_Political_Thinking_and_Legitimacy_Building_A_Post-Marxist_Perspective/links/5584734108ae71f6ba8c4d0d.pdf online]
* {{Citation |last1=Naughton |first1=Barry |title=China's Great Transformation |year=2008 |editor-last=Brandt |editor-first=Loren |chapter=A Political Economy of China's Economic Transition''in ''China's Great Transformation |location=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge university press |display-authors=1 |author2=<Please add first missing authors to populate metadata.> |editor2-last=Rawski |editor2-first=G. Thomas}}

==Further reading==
{{Library resources box}}
* Bo, Zhiyue. "Hu Jintao and the CCP's ideology: A historical perspective". ''Journal of Chinese Political Science'' 9.2 (2004): 27–45. [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Zhiyue_Bo/publication/225733571_Hu_Jintao_and_the_CCP's_ideology_A_historical_perspective/links/0c960515e8bb528483000000.pdf online]
* Cabestan, Jean-Pierre. "China's foreign-and security-policy decision-making processes under Hu Jintao." ''Journal of Current Chinese Affairs'' 38.3 (2009): 63–97. [https://scholar.google.com/scholar?output=instlink&q=info:JOFOcOHy6N0J:scholar.google.com/&hl=en&as_sdt=0,27&scillfp=14327057797953639343&oi=lle online]
* Chai, Winberg. "The ideological paradigm shifts of China's world views: From Marxism-Leninism-Maoism to the pragmatism-multilateralism of the Deng-Jiang-Hu era". ''Asian Affairs'' 30.3 (2003): 163–175.
* Cheng, Tun-Jen, et al. eds. ''China Under Hu Jintao: Opportunities, Dangers, and Dilemmas'' (2005)
* David, Daniel K. ''Modern World Leaders: Hu Jintao'' (Chelsea, 2008)
* Ding, Yijiang. "Consolidation of the PRC's leadership succession system from Hu Jintao to Xi Jinping". ''China Report'' 51.1 (2015): 49–65.
* Fewsmith, Joseph. "China under Hu Jintao". ''China Leadership Monitor'' 14 (Spring 2005) [https://www.hoover.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/clm14_jf.pdf online].
* Fu, Diana, and Greg Distelhorst. "Grassroots participation and repression under Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping." ''China Journal'' 79.1 (2018): 100–122. {{doi|10.1086/694299}}.
* Garver, John W. ''China's Quest: The History of the Foreign Relations of the People's Republic of China'' (2016)
* Holbig, Heike. "Remaking the CCP's ideology: Determinants, progress, and limits under Hu Jintao." ''Critical Readings on the Communist Party of China'' (4 Vols. Brill, 2017). pp 773–796. {{doi|10.1177/186810260903800303}}.
* Mulvenon, James C. "Hu Jintao and the 'Core Values of Military Personnel{{'"}}. ''China Leadership Monitor'' 28 (2009): 1-8. [http://media.hoover.org/sites/default/files/documents/CLM28JM.pdf online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921035438/http://media.hoover.org/sites/default/files/documents/CLM28JM.pdf |date=21 September 2018 }}
* Narayanan, Raviprasad. "Stability with Chinese Characteristics: Hu Jintao's Taiwan Policy".''China Report'' 49.4 (2013): 413–424.
* Zheng, Yongnian, and Sow Keat Tok. "Harmonious society and harmonious world: China's policy discourse under Hu Jintao." ''Briefing Series'' 26 (2007): 1–12. [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/iaps/documents/cpi/briefings/briefing-26-harmonious-society-and-harmonious-world.pdf online]

==External links==
{{Wikinews category|Hu Jintao}}
{{Commons}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* [http://www.chinavitae.com/biography_display.php?id=19 Hu Jintao] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060822105831/http://www.chinavitae.com/biography_display.php?id=19 |date=22 August 2006 }} (ChinaVitae.com)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040607082550/http://www.idcpc.org.cn/english/events/040428.htm Hu Jintao calls for upholding Marxism] ([[Xinhua News Agency|Xinhua]])
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4165209.stm China's leader shows his stripes] 2005 BBC article arguing Hu more hardline than he initially appeared
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050126030746/http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/article/0,13673,501050131-1019916,00.html Requiem for Reform?] Zhao Ziyang's vision of political change in China dims as Hu Jintao hardens the Party line (Time Asia)
* {{C-SPAN|92684}}
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