Facing challenges

In his first public speech after being elected the general secretary in November, Xi showed his leadership style by reaching out to ordinary people and highlighting the role the people have played.

Xi considers the people to be a source of strength and vows to stand by them in good times and bad.

"Our people have an ardent love for life. They wish to have better education, more stable jobs, more income, greater social security, better medical and health care, improved housing conditions and a better environment," Xi said.

"They want their children to grow well, have ideal jobs and lead a more enjoyable life. To meet their desire for a happy life is our mission."

Xi has been concerned with the smog that affected people in many parts of the country. He ordered measures to cope with the air pollution, and asked government departments to join all sectors in the society to build a "beautiful China".

On Dec 1, World AIDS Day, Xi visited a community clinic in Beijing, and shook hands with HIV carriers and AIDS patients, stressing that the whole of society must be involved in fighting the disease, and every patient must be cared for.

Shortly before the Spring Festival, Xi took to Beijing's streets to give holiday greetings to subway workers, sanitation workers, police officers and taxi drivers.

"I know that you cannot rest during the holiday, so I come here to see you," Xi told them.

For decades, Xi has immersed himself among the people and strived to work for their benefit.

"To solve problems in China, we should rely on not only the CPC and the government, but also on the 1.3 billion people," he said.

In line with the down-to-earth style he has advocated, Xi has traveled to poor counties and villages, visiting the neediest people.

In order to get a real picture of poverty, Xi, after assuming the office of general secretary, traveled three times to areas that are "extremely impoverished".

"The general secretary is easy-going and he talks like us," 69-year-old farmer Tang Rongbin said while recalling Xi's visit to his home in Hebei province.

"We chatted for half an hour. He asked me how many TV channels I can watch, and whether I can make long-distance calls with my landline," Tang said. "He's like an old friend of mine."

Xi brought cooking oil, flour, quilts and coats to families in the village of Luotuowan in Hebei during his visit in December.

"Without prosperity in rural China, particularly in impoverished areas, we can't complete building a moderately prosperous society in all respects," Xi said.

Xi is also open-minded and never stops learning from ordinary people and those with expertise.

During his visit to Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, he talked with government officials and corporate managers to prepare for the central economic work conference that was held shortly afterward.

At the end of 2012, he visited leaders of non-Communist parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce to discuss ways to improve the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC.

For the past four months, Xi has chaired four group-study sessions for the members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. He sought opinions and suggestions from experts and officials from various departments on issues pertaining to the Party and the country.

Turning 60 this year, Xi is at an age when a person can be more tolerant of criticism, according to traditional Chinese wisdom. He also asked CPC members to be more tolerant of sharp criticism.

He has asked CPC organizations at all levels to accept comments and supervision from the public to improve their work.

"We should let the people see the tangible changes and results of our work," Xi said.