Little Hu and the mining of the grasslands

LOCAL legend has it that the beauty of the grasslands in Xilin Gol, a prefecture in eastern Inner Mongolia, so captivated the 13th-century warrior Genghis Khan that he planned to settle down there once his battles were over. He might be less impressed if he saw it today. In recent years a rush to mine the region’s abundant minerals has scarred its hills, desiccated its pastures and fuelled unrest among its Mongol herders. For the local Communist Party chief, Hu Chunhua, who many believe is being groomed as a future leader of China, these are difficult times.

At 49, Mr Hu is China’s second-youngest provincial party chief. He is a likely candidate for elevation to the ruling Politburo when China’s “fifth generation” of leaders assumes power in the autumn. He is also widely believed to be close to President Hu Jintao. The two men are not related, but Inner Mongolia’s leader is sometimes referred to as “Little Hu” because of the two men’s similar political backgrounds. As the president once did in Tibet, the younger Mr Hu is preparing for higher office in a border region with a sizeable ethnic-minority population. He is thought to be President Hu’s favourite to head the “sixth generation” of leaders that is expected to take over in 2022. Little Hu’s record in Inner Mongolia will help determine whether he succeeds.