Standing Committee members Hu Jintao Born 1942, native of Anhui. President, Central Military Commission chairman, Communist Party general secretary. Joined party: 1964 The Communist Party chief has been a familiar but inscrutable face for most Chinese since taking over from his colourful predecessor, Jiang Zemin, in the first smooth leadership transition since 1949. The poker-faced former water project engineer has successfully consolidated his grip on power by striking a middle path and championing the country?s have-nots Wen Jiabao Born 1942, native of Tianjin. Premier. Joined party: 1965 Burdened by the many evils bedevilling the country, China's 'man of the people' still has eyes fixed on the stars. Since becoming premier in 2003, the diminutive geology graduate has charmed millions of hearts with his trademark gentle demeanour and warm handshake. His idealism has made him the odd man out in Chinese politics, and his gradualist approach to policy making has won him praise and criticism in equal measure Wu Bangguo Born 1941, native of Anhui. NPC Standing Committee chairman. Joined party: 1964 He may rank second in the party hierarchy and head the country's legislature, but the former factory boss's elevation to the Politburo Standing Committee five years ago was seen as the result of a factional balancing act. The 66-year-old has retained his seat despite being associated with the declining Shanghai faction Jia Qinglin Born 1940, native of Hebei. CPPCC chairman. Joined party: 1959 An ally of former president Jiang Zemin, the party's No 4 has never truly emerged from the cloud of a massive smuggling scandal during his time as Fujian party boss in the 1990s and is widely disliked. Some attribute his survival not only to his powerful patron but also his ability to foster political cronies Li Changchun Born 1944, native of Liaoning. Standing Committee member, propaganda tsar. Joined party: 1965 The party's ideological chief has been at the forefront of propaganda efforts over the years to burnish the credentials of his party and bosses, but the jury is still out on whether the sloganeering has had any effect on people disillusioned with communist teachings. The former Henan party boss has raised more than a few angry eyebrows with his stranglehold on the media Xi Jinping Born 1953, native of Shaanxi. Shanghai Party secretary. Joined party: 1974 Overshadowed by his soprano wife, the well-connected princeling suddenly finds himself at centre stage. His stock has risen fast since taking over as Shanghai party chief following the fall of his predecessor in a corruption scandal. State media have been singing his praise since and China watchers now tip him as the next top leader Li Keqiang Born 1955, native of Anhui. Liaoning party secretary. Joined party: 1976 Sporting big glasses and an owlish appearance, the Liaoning party chief has long been billed as a clone of President Hu Jintao. Their similarities do not end here, with both having led the Communist Youth League, which has become their common power base. The Peking University law major seems to have followed every step made by Mr Hu He Guoqiang Born 1943, native of Hunan. Head of CCP Central Organisation Department. Joined party: 1966 Responsible for background checks on candidates for appointments and promotions, the key ally of Vice-President Zeng Qinghong prefers to stay in the shadows. His job has put him in charge of many of the party?s top secrets Zhou Yongkang Born 1942, native of Jiangsu. Minister of public security. Joined party: 1964 The former oil company boss has reshaped himself as the party's ruthless iron fist after becoming the country's top cop and had been credited with creating a more professional and powerful police force. A close ally of outgoing Vice-President Zeng Qinghong Other members Wang Gang Born 1942, native of Jilin. Secretary of Work Committee for Organs under Central Committee. Joined party: 1971 Wang Lequan Born 1944, native of Shandong. Xinjiang party secretary. Joined party: 1966 Wang Zhaoguo Born 1941, native of Hebei. NPC vice-chairman. Joined party: 1965 Wang Qishan Born 1948, native of Shanxi. Beijing mayor. Joined party: 1983 Hui Liangyu Born 1944, native of Jilin. Vice-premier. Joined party: 1966 Liu Qi Born 1942, native of Jiangsu. Beijing party secretary. Joined party: 1975 Liu Yunshan Born 1947, native of Shanxi. Head of CCP Central Propaganda Department. Joined party: 1971 Liu Yandong Born 1945, native of Jiangsu. Head of CCP Central United Front Work Department. Joined party: 1964 Li Yuanchao Born 1950, native of Jiangsu. Jiangsu party secretary. Joined party: 1978 Wang Yang Born 1955, native of Anhui. Chongqing party secretary. Joined party: 1975 Zhang Gaoli Born 1946, native of Fujian. Tianjin party secretary. Joined party: 1973 Zhang Dejiang Born 1946, native of Liaoning. Guangdong party secretary. Joined party: 1971 Yu Zhengsheng Born 1945, native of Zhejiang. Hubei party secretary. Joined party: 1964 Xu Caihou Born 1943, native of Liaoning. Vice-Chairman of Central Military Commission. Joined party: 1971 Guo Boxiong Born 1942, native of Shaanxi. Vice-chairman of Central Military Commission. Joined party: 1963 Bo Xilai Born 1949, native of Shanxi. Commerce minister. Joined party: 1980 Between the last party congress in 2002 and the end of June this year, 13.16 million new members joined the Communist Party, increasing total membership by 6.42 million to 73.3m Changes in party makeup since 2002 Private businessmen up 113.4% Women up 22.6% Ethnic minority members up 11.6% College graduates up 40.8% People from 'new social stratum' such as private businessmen to apply for membership: 134,000 Total number of people classified as members of 'new social stratum': 50m Party members working in private firms: 3.18m Gross-roots Communist Party organisations: 3.6m PHOTOS: REUTERS, AP, DAVID WONG, ROBERT NG, AFP, XINHUA, RICKY CHUNG, IMAGINECHINA, EDWARD WONG, MARK RALSTON, BLOOMBERG
