But Hu wasn't there just to boost public morale. Actually, it was during this Guangdong trip that he first put forth the idea of "a comprehensive conception of development", a well thought-out answer to those hidden problems which had surfaced during the SARS crisis.

Three months later in Beijing, Hu officially called for the endorsement of a new development model for the country, which he said should be more "comprehensive, balanced and sustainable" than the old GDP-oriented growth model.

Four years later, the new theory, now formally named the Scientific Outlook on Development, was written into the Party Constitution at the 17th CPC National Congress, becoming a guiding principle for the country's efforts to build "socialism with Chinese characteristics".

Apart from the Scientific Outlook on Development, Hu was also believed to be the mastermind and strong advocate of many other new political ideas and concepts that gradually became popular phrases in the daily conversations of the Chinese people.

Most of these rather big political terms were simplified into short and easy-to-remember phrases of four Chinese characters, such as "Yi Ren Wei Ben" (putting people first), "He Xie She Hui" (harmonious society), "Zhi Zheng Neng Li" (governance capability of the Party), and "Ba Rong Ba Chi" (eight do's and eight don'ts for social ethics).

This year, as China marks the 30th anniversary of its historic reform and opening policy, Hu has clearly stated that China will "unswervingly adhere" to this policy, which not only enjoys widespread public support , but also keeps up with the trend of the times.

"The orientation and path of reform and opening are entirely correct, and their merits and achievements can never be negated," said Hu. "To stop or reverse it would only lead to a blind alley."

When it comes to promoting democracy in the world's most populous nation, Hu not only has a practical roadmap, but also a feasible plan of implementation.

At the 17th CPC National Congress held in Beijing last October, Hu said in his keynote report that it is necessary to "expand intra-Party democracy to develop people's democracy".

Also at the 17th Party congress, for the first time in history, the CPC engaged its higher-ranking officials in a "democratic nomination" of candidates for the 25-member Party Central Committee Political Bureau, virtually putting the Party's new top leadership through a rare popularity test and competence evaluation.