Hu Jintao ( , pronounced ; born 21 December 1942) is a Chinese politician who was the paramount leader of China between 2002 and 2012. He held the offices of General Secretary of the Communist Party from 2002 to 2012, President of the People's Republic from 2003 to 2013 and Chairman of the Central Military Commission from 2004 to 2012. He was a member of the 14th to 17th CPC Politburo Standing Committee, China's de facto top decision-making body.