Xi Jinping’s early life exalted in Xinhua profile

China’s incoming president Xi Jinping was shaped by his “unique experiences as an ‘educated youth’”, state news agency Xinhua said in a profile that was accompanied by a lengthy photo gallery of the Communist Party boss in his early years.

The piece, published on Sunday, sought to depict Xi, the son of former vice-premier and Communist revolutionary hero Xi Zhongxun, as a “man of the people” who survived hard times in a village in northwest China’s Shaanxi province. It also covers his time as party secretary of Ningde and Fuzhou, in Fujian province, and recounts a time he visited coal miners underground in Zhejiang province – “walking more than 1,500 metres along a narrow and inclined shaft”.

On Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan affairs, Xinhua portrays him as a “good friend”:

Xi is also familiar with work related to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. His 17 years in Fujian gave him a deep understanding of Taiwan and enterprises from Taiwan. The first Taiwan chamber of commerce on the mainland was established in Xiamen when he worked in Fujian. He solved many problems for Taiwan compatriots, and has been seen as a good friend by many of them.

As a top leader in charge of Hong Kong and Macao affairs, Xi helped work out a number of important policies on the long-term stability and prosperity of the two special administrative regions.

In 2008 and 2009 when Hong Kong and Macao were seriously hit by the international financial crisis, Xi visited the cities to show his support.

Xinhua also released on Sunday a profile of China’s next premier Li Keqiang, calling him “a man who puts people first”.