(The Singaporean political genius compared Xi with Hu)
"He [Xi Jinping] has had a tougher life than Hu Jintao [the previous Chinese President]. His father was rusticated, and so was he. He took it in his stride, worked his way up the southern provinces quietly, and rose to become secretary of Fujian Province. Then he went to Shanghai, and then to Beijing.
It has not been smooth sailing for him.
His life experiences must have hardened him. He is reserved-not in the sense that he will not talk to you, but in the sense that he will not betray his likes and dislikes.
There is always a pleasant smile on his face, whether or not you have said something that annoyed him.
He has iron in his soul, more than Hu Jintao, who ascended the ranks without experiencing the trials and tribulations that Xi endured.
I would put him in Nelson Mandela's class of persons. A person with enormous emotional stability who does not allow his personal misfortunes or sufferings to affect his judgment. In other words, he is impressive."
from Graham Allison, et al "Lee Kuan Yew: The Grand Master's Insights on China, the United States, and the World"
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0262019124/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_cdleAbAFXR0BG