"Hu's ideas of democracy is new," said Cheng Li, a researcher with the U.S.-based think bank Brookings Institution. Others say "there is more to expect" in China's democratic development.

"Who's Hu" answered

Sources close to Hu say that they are often impressed by his capability to negotiate difficult situations, adding that Hu is able to take a firm stance and display reasonable flexibility at the same time.

From the diplomatic perspective, the Chinese president's first state visit to the United States in April 2006 was a significant opportunity for both countries to push forward their "constructive and cooperative relations." Personally speaking, however, the president may have another mission to fulfil -- to answer a question once raised by a prestigious U.S. magazine.

"Who's Hu?" -- This was the title of a Time magazine profile story on Hu Jintao in 2003, when he was just elected president and appeared somewhat "mysterious" to the outside world.

During his four-day visit, Hu engaged himself in extensive interactions with American business circles, tycoons, senior intellectuals, students and common people, many of whom were impressed and enchanted by his amicable, confident smile, candid attitude, and good sense of humor.

Diplomatic sources recalled that during various talks, Hu never yielded on issues concerning China's core national interests. Meanwhile, he was always "friendly and willing to listen", and appeared ready to communicate on any topics.

At the Yale University, Hu told his audience: "I hope when raising questions, my friends will give no mercy to me," cheering everyone up instantly, and discussed "democracy with Chinese characteristics" with the students.

"He was really given some tough questions, and he handled them very well," said John Kennedy, one of the Yale students present.

U.S. President George W. Bush, who had first summit meeting with Hu in 2003, said on several occasions that Hu is a "smart man" that he likes to talk with and "share issues together."

Four years after raising that question, the Time magazine put Hu Jintao on the list of Time's 100 who shaped the world in 2007.

Very few heads of state in the world could have a tighter diplomatic schedule than Hu Jintao over the past five years. He set foot on dozens of countries in both the developed and developing worlds. He shook hands with 48 heads of state and government from Africa at the Beijing Summit of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, giving a strong push to the building of a new type of China-Africa strategic partnership.

An inheritor of the ancient Chinese wisdom about "peace and harmony," Hu advocated the fresh concept of a "harmonious world" at the United Nations' 60th anniversary summit in 2005, explaining the Chinese view about international relations and reassuring the world of China's commitment to peaceful development.

A gentleman but not always gentle

As a graduate of the elite Tsinghua University and a former engineer, Hu always behaves like a real gentleman in the traditional Chinese sense -- modest and low-profile, kind and easy to approach. However, at critical moments or on matters of principle, Hu is never "gentle" or "soft" in decision-making and action-taking.

Hu strongly detests corruption and has repeatedly said: "The CPC never tolerates corruption or any other negative phenomena, just as water and fire can never come together."