Here's a look at the life of Xi Jinping, vice president of the People's Republic of China since 2008.
Personal: Birth date: June 1953
Birth place: Fuping County, Shaanxi Province, China (some sources say Beijing)
Birth name: Xi Jinping
Father: Xi Zhongxun, revolutionary and vice premier
Mother: Qi Xin
Marriages: Peng Liyuan (1987-present); Ke Lingling (divorced)
Children: with Peng Liyuan: Xi Mingze (daughter)
Education: Tsinghua University, Chemical Engineering, 1979; Tsinghua University, LLD, 2002
Other Facts: Is considered to be a "princeling," the son or daughter of a revolutionary veteran.
His wife, Peng Liyuan, is a famous folk singer in China.
Timeline: 1969-1975 - Works as an agricultural laborer in Liangjiahe, Shaanxi. Xi is among the millions of urban youths who were "sent down," forced to leave cities to work as laborers in the countryside under Mao's policies.
1974 - Joins the Communist Party of China.
1979-1982 - Works as the personal secretary to Geng Biao, the minister of defense.
1982-1985 - Serves as deputy secretary and then secretary of Zhengding, Hebei Province.
April 1985 - Makes his first trip to the United States as part of an agricultural delegation.
1985-1988 - Executive vice mayor of Xiamen, Fujian Province.
1988-1990 - Party secretary of Ningde, Fujian Province.
1990-1996 - Party secretary of Fuzhou, Fujian Province.
1996-1999 - Deputy party secretary of Fujian Province.
1999- 2000 - Vice governor of Fujian Province.
2000-2002 - Governor of Fujian Province.
2002-2007 - Party secretary of Zhejiang Province.
2007 - Is named party secretary of Shanghai.
October 2007-present - Politburo Standing Committee member.
