Hu Jintao: Bureaucrat with photographic memory

When the enigmatic Chinese President Hu Jintao arrives in New Delhi on Monday, the world would be keen to size-up the leader of the single party-ruled Communist giant, and how he vibes with leaders of India's flourishing democracy.

Apart from being China's sixth President, Hu is also holding two more powerful posts - General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, the top military organ of China controlling the world's largest standing army of 2.5 million.

Analysts say Hu, the first Chinese President to visit India since 1996, needs a successful visit to further bolster his leadership in the party ahead of next year's 17th Party Congress.

In Hu's steady rise through party ranks, he has earned a reputation as a cautious bureaucrat with a photographic memory and great powers of concentration.

The Indian leadership will have to deal with Hu, 63, for a long time to come as he is almost certain to be re-elected as CPC boss for another five-year term in the autumn of 2007 at the 17th Party Congress.

The Chinese constitution also allows him to seek another 5-year term as President in 2008. Hu's visit will be his second trip to India, the last being in 1984 as President of the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF).

The media-shy, technocrat-turned-politician presides over the world's fastest growing economy, which is now known as the world's factory churning out low-cost products for the globe including India. (PTI)