Xi Jinping

Age: 58
Occupation: Vice President, People's Republic of China

This fall, Xi is expected to take over from President Hu Jintao during China's once-a-decade leadership transition. The son of a former Vice Premier, Xi has held top jobs in booming coastal provinces and the city of Shanghai. While slightly more colorful than China's current crop of leaders — his wife is a popular singer, and Xi counts old friends in places like Iowa, which he visited in 1985 — he remains just as much a cipher. Where will he take China? We'll find out next year.

• 
• Click to Print

• Find this article at:
• https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2107952_2107953_2110186,00.html