World to get first look at China's Hu

BEIJING - He leads the world's most populous nation but remains a mystery to most, with few trips abroad and carefully scripted public appearances.

Over the next two weeks, though, dozens of foreign leaders will get to know Hu Jintao when he makes his overseas debut as China's new president, traveling to Russia on Monday, then France for talks with President Bush and other leaders at the annual Group of Eight summit.

The visits allow Hu to add the title of global statesman to his growing resume and to take another step out of the shadow of long-serving predecessor Jiang Zemin. By taking a place alongside other world leaders, Hu opens up new contacts and influence, boosting his prestige and authority.

Chinese officials insist Hu's visits will not mark any changes in foreign policy, long based on keeping a low profile abroad so the communist government can pursue economic development at home. Though a major trading power and permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, China is only starting to feel comfortable as a diplomatic force and remains largely aloof from many international issues.

"Hu doesn't yet have the personal authority to effect the direction and content of foreign policy," said Sin-ming Shaw, a China specialist at Oxford University's St. Antony's College.

In style, Hu is a marked contrast from his predecessor.

Jiang liked to impress, and sometimes shock, his hosts with songs, bear hugs and poetry recitations in foreign languages. Hu, who is not known to speak any foreign languages, is said to be affable but businesslike when meeting overseas guests.

And while Jiang delighted in the media spotlight, Hu has ordered state media to tone down reporting on such events. Farewell and welcoming home ceremonies, long a Chinese political ritual, have been canceled in the name of government efficiency.

Hu, an engineer, worked his way quietly up the ranks of the party and was designated as Jiang's successor almost a decade ago. He has steered clear of controversy, keeping his views to himself and avoiding squabbles with other leaders, giving him a reputation for being enigmatic and bland.

Hu departs first for Moscow, where he will attend a meeting of a Chinese-sponsored, six-nation group set up to fight Muslim extremism in Central Asia and counterbalance U.S. influence.

The meeting is expected to set up a permanent secretariat for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Based in Beijing and headed by a Chinese diplomat, it will strengthen China's leadership of the group, which includes Russia, Kazakstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Hu then will attend celebrations for the 300th anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin's hometown, alongside Bush and thousands of other dignitaries.

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