China and the United States have major influence in international affairs and shoulder important responsibilities in upholding world peace and promoting common development.

Newsweek named Hu the second most powerful person in the world referring to him as "the man behind the wheel of the world's most supercharged economy. " In response to this nation-wide search for young party members Song Ping the first secretary of CPC Gansu Committee (Gansu's governor) discovered Hu Jintao and promoted him several ranks to the position of deputy head of the commission. In addition Hu's "soft approach" to Taiwan coinciding with the election of a Kuomintang government in Taipei was credited for having improved relationship between mainland China and Taiwan.

[citation needed]
During his term in office Hu reintroduced state control in some sectors of the economy that were relaxed by the previous administration and has been conservative with political reforms. He sought to improve socio-economic equality domestically through the Scientific Development Concept which aimed to build a "Socialist Harmonious Society" that was prosperous and free of social conflict. Hu possesses a low-key and reserved leadership style and is reportedly a firm believer in consensus-based rule.