Is Hu Jintao A Reformer?

October 2005 | Political Risk Analysis

On becoming party leader in November 2002 and President in March 2003, Hu initially adopted a much more populist approach to government than his predecessor, Jiang Zemin. Hu showed much more sympathy for those who have yet to feel the benefit of China's uneven economic boom, such as the rural poor. At the same time, President Hu received international plaudits for the open response his government showed when tackling the SARS outbreak of 2003. Hu also took a number of high-profile trips to China's poorer areas, while at the same time increasing investment in the impoverished western hinterlands.

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