Although he has gained a higher profile since the death of Deng Xiaoping in 1997, few people outside China know much about Jiang Zemin.

When Chinese troops ruthlessly suppressed the pro-democracy demonstrations in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in June 1989, the more liberal leaders within the Chinese politburo were purged with them.

Paramount Leader Deng Xiaoping, who held all the real power, needed to find a new protégé to lead the Communist Party. At the time the mayor of Shanghai was a relatively unknown party functionary named Jiang Zemin.

According to former US ambassador to Beijing James Lilley, Jiang was something of a surprise choice.

Heightened security in Tiananmen Square on the 10th anniversary of the massacre

"The real competitor for Jiang Zemin was a man called Qiao Shi, and Qiao Shi got on the fence at Tiananmen", says Mr Lilley, "whereas Jiang Zemin down in Shanghai handled the whole demonstration, which was very large in Shanghai, without resorting to bloodshed."

Jiang was fortunate; his mentor, Deng Xiaoping, lived for another eight years, a crucial time in which Jiang consolidated his power.

Love Me Tender

When Deng finally died in February 97, Jiang Zemin delivered a tearful elegy, as well he might. For he now had to stand on his own, and step out of not only Deng's shadow, but Chairman Mao's as well.

Merle Goldman of Boston University says Jiang has done that, and that he is a new generation of Chinese leader.

"Jiang Zemin is very different from Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping,'' adds Mr Goldman.

''Mao made the revolution; he was willing to build an army to make that revolution. Deng was a man who led China on to the reforms that led it, at the end of the twentieth century, to become a major modernising power in the world.

Paramount Leader Deng Xiaoping lies in state

"Jiang Zemin is not that kind of person. He wants to keep things on an even keel, he doesn't want anything that would be disruptive. But at the same time, he is not willing to move any way towards political reform, which is what China really needs at this point."

A political conservative he may be, but you know the times are changing when the leader of the Communist World picks up a karaoke mike in public.

At the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit in Manila in 1996, Jiang rounded off a dinner with Philippine president Fidel Ramos with a rousing rendition of Elvis Presley's 'Love Me Tender'.

The Flowerpot

Former ambassador James Lilley says it's typical of the man. What is more surprising is his staying power.

"He was called The Flowerpot in Shanghai,'' says Mr Lilley. ''Lots of decoration, no action. Well, it turns out he is a good concensus builder, he's a good manipulator."

There are signs though that there may come a point quite soon, when Jiang Zemin will have some tough choices to make. Mr Goldman says that living standards may have risen for many, but there are also millions on the edge.

"There is a lot of, I would say, social turbulence. The real question will be when this explodes, how Jiang Zemin will respond to it,'' adds Mr Goldman. ''Will he respond by sending in the troops, or will he respond by in some way reacting to the demands coming from below?"