Dr. Xi Jinping Biography, President of China


About Xi Jinping 

Xi Jinping 习近平 is the second son of Chinese Communist Revolutionary Xi Zhongxun and Qi Xin. Xi was born on 15 June 1953 in Beijing, China. 

He got an opportunity to join the Beijing No. 25 School in the 1960s and quickly changed to Beijing Bayi School.

Xi’s father had completed many high-level positions, such as Party Propaganda Chief, vice-premier, and Vice-Chairperson of the National People’s Congress. In the Cultural Revolution, President Mao Zedong decided to send Xi Zhongxun to work in Luoyang, Henan, in 1963. 

1968 Xi’s father was imprisoned when he was 15 years old and sent him to work in Liangjiahe Village, Wen’anyi Town. Xi lived and worked in different rural communities, spending seven years when his father was in prison.

After his seventh attempt, Xi joined the Communist Youth League of China in 1971 as a local official. He was accepted as a member of the Chinese Communist Party in 1974 on his tenth attempt.  

Xi completed Chemical Engineering at Tsinghua University in Beijing from 1975 to 1979. He served as Geng Biao’s secretary-general of the Central Military Commission from 1979 to 1982. He had gained a military background during that time.

Xi was sent to Zhengding Country in Hebei as deputy party secretary of Zhengding County in 1983 and was promoted to secretary in 1983.

He subsequently took responsibility in four different provinces during his regional political career. Xi served in Hebei from 1982 to 1985, Fujian from 1985 to 2002, Zhejiang from 2002 to 2007, and Shanghai from 2007.

Xi studied at Tsinghua University in 1998. He completed his doctorate in 2002 in Marxist theory and ideological education in law and ideology.

At the 17th Party Congress in October 2007, Xi was appointed to the nine-man Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China. A year later, in March 2008, Xi was elected vice president of the People’s Republic of China.

Xi was elected as general secretary of the Communist Party and chairman of the CCP Central Military Commission On 15 November 2012 by the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. 

On 14 March 2013, Xi was elected as the President of the People’s Republic of China from the 12th National People’s Congress in Beijing

1. Xi Jinping’s Childhood

As the son of high-level communist leader Xi Zhongxun, the younger Xi was born in Beijing on June 15, 1953. Xi grew up in a comfortable environment with an older sister and younger brother.

He got an excellent opportunity to join the Beijing No. 25 School in the 1960s and quickly changed to Beijing Bayi School.

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President Xi Jinping with his father in childhood and his father’s old age

Xi Jinping was nine years old when Chairman Mao sent Xi’s father to prison in 1962. Xi’s family faced unexpected problems after his father was imprisoned.

After the terrible Cultural Revolution in 1966, Chairman Mao punished the whole family in the name of his father’s alleged sins. In the few years of punishment, his father was sent to work at a camp in rural areas, and in 1968, he was sent back to prison.

Growing up in a good family situation, Xi was only 15, an old softly, speaking child, and his family faced unbelievable trouble. In the beginning phase, the Cultural Revolution Red Guards ransacked his family home, forcing the family to flee.

Xi’s sister died in the mayhem. At the same time, his mother was sent to work in a camp in the countryside.

Xi was sent hundreds of miles southwest of Beijing, Shaanxi province Liangjiahe, where his father was involved during the war. He lived in a human-made cave with very few facilities in the remote village of Shaanxi province.

2. Xi Jinping took the opportunity to the punishment 

Xi was born in Beijing’s capital city and grew up with more urban facilities than the other children. At 15, a high school student is punished in the name of his father’s alleged sins.

Xi was not used to rural life, so he ran to Beijing. Unfortunately, on the way to Beijing, he was arrested by the Red Guards and sent to a work camp to dig ditches.

Later, Xi returned to his father’s village, lived in a human-made cave, and spent about seven years in the countryside.

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President Xi Jinping worked as a party member and presidency

Chairman Mao’s government leader and the party had punished him, although he ironically cemented his allegiance to the Communist ideology.

Xi believes his life as a farmer was enlightening him. He feels proud that time to understand the difficulties of ordinary rural people.

Xi claims that living in the countryside was an excellent opportunity to know the people and helped him become a champion of the ordinary person.

3. Xi Jinping’s education up to Ph.D. 

Xi Jinping joined the primary school in Beijing called the Beijing No. 25 School. After a few years in the first school, he joined Beijing Bayi School in the 1960s.

He forcibly leaves the school and is sent to the village to work. Xi worked in rural areas for seven years in the name of the Chinese Communist Party. After Mao Zedong’s rule, he returned to Beijing and studied Chemical Engineering from 1975 to 1979 at Tsinghua University as a Worker-Peasant-Soldier student.

Xi dedicated himself to his study and political career at the time. He was a leader in the party committee when he studied Marxist theory and ideological education at Tsinghua University at a doctorate level in 1998. Xi completed his Ph.D. in 2002 from Tsinghua University in China’s capital city.

Xi got a chance to study U.S. agriculture in 1985. He stayed with an American family for two weeks and got a lasting impression on him and his views about the United States.

4. Xi Jinping, CCP member to General Secretary 

Xi applied for membership in the Communist Youth League of China; he became a Youth League member in 1971 as a local official after being rejected seven times.

Xi also applied to join as a member of the Chinese communist party; he got the party membership only in the tenth attempt in 1974 after his family reunion.

  • Xi became party branch secretary of Liangjiahe Brigade, Wen’anyi Commune, Yancuan Country, Shaanxi Province from 1969-1975.
  • He worked from 1982 to 1983 as Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Zhengding Country, Hebei Province.
  • 1983-1985, Xi became the Secretary of the Party Committee of Zhengding Country.
  • He became a Standing Committee of Fujian Province member from 1985-1988.
  • From 1988-1990, he became Secretary of the Ningde Prefectural Committee of Fujian province and the first secretary of the Party Committee of the Ningde Army Sub-district.
  • From 1990-1993, he remained the Secretary of the Party Committee of Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, and the First Secretary of the Party Committee of the Fuzhou Military Subregion.
  • Xi remained a member of the Standing Committee of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee and the First Secretary of the Party Committee of the Fuzhou Military Sub-region from 1993-1995.
  • 1995-1996 were the years when Xi remained as deputy Secretary of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee, and First Secretary of the Party Committee of the Fuzhou Military Sub-region
  • From1996-1999 he holds the portfolio as Deputy Secretary of Fujian Provincial Party Committee
  • 1999-2000 marks the years when he became Deputy Secretary of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee and the first political commissar of the Fujian Anti-Aircraft Artillery Reserve Division
  • He remained Deputy Secretary of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee and the first political commissar of the Fujian Anti-Aircraft Artillery Reserve Division from 2000-2002.
  • From 2002-2002 he was entrusted as Deputy Secretary and Acting Governor of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee.
  • From 2002-2003 he became the Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee of the Chinese Communist party 
  • From 2003-2007 he got responsible as Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee and the First Secretary of the Party Committee of the Zhejiang Military Region
  • 2007-2007 Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, first secretary of the Party Committee of the Shanghai Garrison District
  • 2007-2008 Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee
  • Starting from 2008-2010, he got the membership of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, was Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee, President of the Central Party School
  • Two years from 2010-2012, he became a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, and President of the Central Party School.
  • Xi remained General Secretary of the Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China from 2012-2013.
  • In 2013 he became the General Secretary of the Central Committee, Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the communist party of China

5. Xi Jinping’s role in the government 

  • From 1979 to 1982, Xi became the Secretary of the General Office of the State Council and the General Office of the Central Military Commission. 
  • 1983-1985 marked his tenure as the first political commissar and first secretary of the Party Committee of the Armed Forces Department of Zhengding County.
  •  He remained Deputy Mayor of the Xiamen Municipal Committee of Fujian Province from 1985 to 1988.
  • 1988-1990 Secretary of the Ningde Prefectural Committee of Fujian Province
  • From 1990-1993, Xi became the Director of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People’s Congress.
  • Again from 1993-1995, he became the Director of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People’s Congress.
  • For the third time, from 1995-1996, he continued his tenure as the Director of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People’s Congress.
  • He became the First Political Commissar of the Fujian Anti-Aircraft Artillery Reserve Division from 1996-1999.
  • From 1999-2000, he remained as an Acting governor, Deputy Director of the National Defense Mobilization Committee of the Nanjing Military Region, and Director of the Fujian Provincial National Defense Mobilization Committee.
  • From 2000-2002 he was assigned the responsibility as Deputy Director of the National Defense Mobilization Committee of the Nanjing Military Region and Director of the Fujian Provincial National Defense Mobilization Committee.
  • 2002-2002 Deputy Director of Nanjing Military Region National Defense Mobilization Committee, Director of Zhejiang Provincial National Defense Mobilization Committee
  • For the third time, from 2002-2003, he became the Deputy Director of the Nanjing Military Region National Defense Mobilization Committee and Director of the Zhejiang Provincial National Defense Mobilization Committee.
  • From 2003-2007, he held his office as Director of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People’s Congress for four years.
  • In the year 2007, he was entrusted as Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee.
  • From 2008-2010 he started his journey as Vice Chairman of the People’s Republic of China.
  • In 2010-2012, he continued his office as Vice Chairman of the People’s Republic of China and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China.
  • Once again, from 2012-2013, he became the Vice Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China.
  • Finally, in 2013, he was nominated as the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China.

6. Achievements during Xi Jinping Presidency (2013-2020)

The Chinese Dream

Xi Jinping started promoting the phrase as a slogan during a high-profile tour at the National Museum of China in November 2012. Xi said to the youths, ‘ Dare to dream, work assiduously to fulfill the dreams, and contribute to the nation’s revitalization.’

After becoming General Secretary of the Communist Party of China in 2012, he announced his administration would work for the Chinese Dream of rejuvenating the Chinese nation.

Xi expresses the modernization goal of China becoming a fully developed nation by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the PRC or the rule by the Communist Party of China.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era

Xi Jinping used these theoretical terms in his speech in 2013 at the national congress. So, people can define Xi Jinping’s thoughts on this terminology. 

Xi agreed that Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought helped the Chinese people out of the darkness and developed a New China. Xi focused on developing the socialist system, which will require up to ten generations of tireless struggle.

Xi focused with great interest on why did the Soviet Union disintegrate? Why does the Soviet Communist Party fall from power? Xi wanted to focus on good governance through economic growth.

Anti-Corruption Campaign under Xi Jinping

Economic reforms began in China in 1978; political corruption has grown significantly. The types of offenses vary, though usually, they involve trading bribes for political favors, such as local businesses trying to secure large government contracts for higher office.

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President Xi Jinping with mother and daughter

On November 15, 2012, the Communist Party of China at the 18th Party Congress, outgoing General Secretary Hu Jintao and incoming party leader Xi Jinping repeatedly emphasized that corruption threatens the party’s survival. 

In his first days in office, Xi also warned his colleagues on the Politburo that corruption would doom the party and state. 

In the anti-corruption campaign, over 120 high-ranking officials, a dozen high-ranking military officers, many senior executive heads of state-owned companies, five national leaders including former Politburo Standing Committee (PSC), member Zhou Yongkang and former Central Military Commission vice-chairmen Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong, and more than 100,000 people have been indicted for corruption under the direction of the central commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and its secretary from 2012 to 2017.

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

Xi Jinping, the president of China, coined the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) in 2013, also referred to as ‘One Belt One Road.’

The BRI trans-continental passage roads, railways, ports, airports, power plants, and telecommunications networks link China with South, Southeast, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe by land.

A Sea route connects China’s coastal regions with southeast and south Asia, the South Pacific, the Middle East, and Eastern Africa, all the way to Europe.

BRI has extensive investments in infrastructure development for roads, railways, ports, airports, power plants, and telecommunications networks. 

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Dr. Xi Jinping

BRI defines five major priorities:

  1. Infrastructure connectivity;
  2. Unimpeded trade;
  3. Policy coordination;
  4. Connecting people;
  5. And financial integration

About $ 8 Trillion is estimated for infrastructural development under the BRI project. In March 2020, 138 countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China for this initiative.

Xi Jinping fights Against Poverty.

Xi Jinping focused on corruption, took action with party leaders, high-level security officers, and government officials, and focused on the country’s poor people.
Xi’s thoughts on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era are focused on economic growth and changing the livelihood of poor people.

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President Xi Jinping with villagers

In his leadership, the whole party mobilizes for good governance and economic growth of the people and country. Xi himself visited more than a hundred poor countryside and saw the people’s situation there. He focused on party goals and the spirit of the Chinese nation and reflected patriotism, socialist ideas, and Chinese value.  

Since Xi became the president, China has lifted all poor rural people out of extreme poverty with 832 counties, 128,000 villages, and nearly 100 million poverty-stricken people.

Frequently Asked Questions?

When Does Xi Jinping marry Peng Liyuan?

Xi Jinping married a Chinese contemporary folk singer Peng Liyuan 彭麗媛, in 1987. 

Who is Peng Liyuan?

Peng Liyuan was a People’s Liberation Army Academy of Art professor. Peng joined the People’s Liberation Army as an ordinary soldier in 1980 when she was 18.

Peng’s vocal was her awe-inspiring talent; Peng later performed during frontline tours to boost morale during the Sino-Vietnamese border conflicts. She first performed nationally during the earliest rendition of the CCTV New year’s Gala in 1982.

She served as Vice President of the All-China Youth Federation from 2005 to 2010 and President of the People’s Liberation Army Academy of Art from 2012 to 2017.

Who is the first wife of Xi Jinping?

In 1979, Ke Lingling married Xi Jinping. After three years of marriage, Ke divorced Xi in 1982 because of differences in values ​​and personalities and immigrated to the UK.  At that time, Xi Jinping was secretary of the Zhengding County Party Committee

What does Ke Lingling do in the UK now?

Ke Lingling is the senior director of a private hospital in London and a visiting professor at the School of Asian and African Medicine, University of London, United Kingdom.

What is the name of Xi Jinping Daughter?

Xi Mingze is Xi Jinping’s daughter. In simplified Chinese, her name is 习明泽; In traditional Chinese, her name is 習明澤 and in pinyin, XíMíngzé; her nickname was Xiao Muzi which means Little wood in English and 小木子 in simplified Chinese.

Where did Xi Mingze born?

Xi Mingze was born on 25 June 1992, in Fuzhou, China

What did Xi Mingze study and when?

Xi Mingze studied French at her high school, Hangzhou Foreign Language School, from 2006 to 2008. Mingze undergraduate at Zhejiang University, enrolled at Harvard University in 2010 and completed her Bachelor of Arts in 2014 from Harvard University.

Since 2015, she has been living in Beijing, continuing her university education.

Is Xi Mingze social worker?

Xi Mingze grew up in a high-level family, but she typically shows her profile. Xi Mingez has done volunteer work. She volunteered as a disaster relief worker for one week during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

References for Xi Jinping’s article

  1. Embracing the new era and creating new brilliance-one of the series of reviews on thoroughly implementing the spirit of the 19th National Congress, 2017-10-29 at Xinhu news
  2. China.org.cn, March 16, 2013, about Xi Jinping
  3. Facts and Details Dotcom, XI JINPING’S EARLY LIFE, CHARACTER AND CAVE HOME YEARS by Jeffrey Hays, Last updated September 2016
  4. Cultural Revolution Shaped Xi Jinping, From Schoolboy to Survivor, in The New York Times By Chris Buckley and Didi Kirsten Tatlow Sept. 24, 2015
  5. THE STATE COUNCIL OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
  6. China Culture. Org about Xi Jinping
  7. China’s Ministry of National Defense, Xi Jinping, Chairman of the Central Military Commission
  8. Xi Jinping From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  9. SENSITIVE WORDS: “INTERVIEW” WITH XI’S FIRST WIFE Posted by Anne Henochowicz | Aug 31, 2015
  10. CPC News Resume of Comrade Xi Jinping, Chinese Communist Party News Network, March 2018
  11. Xi Focus: Xi leads China’s green development Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-03 
  12. Poverty Alleviation: China’s Experience and Contribution, Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-06
  13. Book recalls Xi Jinping’s years as a county official, Sunday, March 17, 2019
  14. Chinese county where Xi Jinping worked steps up bid to get ‘state-level status, by Eva Li Published: 12:01 pm, 3 May 2017
  15. Video Story How Xi Jinping’s ‘three visits’ changed an impoverished town
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  17. Video Story President Xi inspects poverty alleviation achievements in SW China
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  21. Video Story The Chinese Dream is a global aspiration