Photo montage by Adam Connors
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RANKINGS 1-5
| 6-10 | 11-15
| 16-20 | 21-25
| 26-30 | 31-35
| 36-40 | 41-45
| 46-50 | next
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16
Lee Hun Jai
MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMY
OF SOUTH KOREA
BORN April 17, 1944, in Shanghai
EDUCATION Seoul National University and Boston University
FAMILY Married with a son and a daughter
E-MAIL mofe001@mofe.go.kr
POWER POINTS At ground-zero in South Korea's economic reforms,
and responsible for the successes so far. His level-headedness was
a key factor in maintaining international investor confidence. Lee's
astute handling of the Daewoo Group bankruptcy (nearly $80 billion
in debts) helped prevent a stockmarket meltdown. He has led the bruising
fight to bring the chaebol conglomerates to heel.
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Toru
Yamanaka - AFP
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17
Mori Yoshiro
PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN
BORN July 14, 1937, in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
EDUCATION Waseda University
FAMILY Married to Chieko with a son, Yuki, and daughter, Yoko
WEBSITE www.kantei.go.jp
HOBBIES Rugby and golf
POWER POINTS When Obuchi Keizo fell into a coma early April,
it was Mori who came up from the scrum with the ball. Now he has to
prove he can run with it. Promising "total devotion to the public
good," Mori must stamp his authority on the game if he is to win the
election that is expected on June 25.
18
Lee Hsien Loong
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, SINGAPORE; CHAIRMAN, MONETARY AUTHORITY
OF SINGAPORE
BORN Feb. 10, 1952, in Singapore
EDUCATION Cambridge University, Harvard University
FAMILY Widowed and remarried (to Ho Ching, head of state-linked
group Singapore Technologies); three sons, one daughter
E-MAIL lee_hsien_loong@mti.gov.sg
POWER POINTS The driving force behind Singapore's financial-sector
reforms, Lee remains the most solid candidate to succeed Goh Chok
Tong as PM. Some say he would prefer to step up sooner than later.
For now, he's busy building a gentler image - including a recent admission
to getting bad grades in Chinese at school.
19
Hu Jintao
VICE PRESIDENT, CHINA
BORN December 1942, in Shanghai
EDUCATION Tsinghua University, Beijing
FAMILY Married with one son and one daughter
POWER POINTS Media-shy Hu has bolstered his status as leader-in-waiting.
Despite the perception within the PLA that he is a neophyte in military
affairs, Hu was appointed vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.
His obedient toeing of the party line garners support from Jiang Zemin,
but middling performances have raised questions as to whether he will
be ready to lead by 2002. Hu may have to cool his heels for the length
of another five-year plan if Jiang stays on.
Xinhua
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20
Zeng Qinghong
CHIEF OF THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION
DEPT.
BORN July 1939 in Jian, Jiangxi province, China
EDUCATION Beijing Engineering Institute
POWER POINTS Even when the sun goes down, Jiang Zemin has a
shadow. Almost constantly at the president's side, Zeng is Jiang's
right-hand - and hatchet - man, in charge of organizing Communist
Party and government personnel. Despised as the "head eunuch" of Zhongnanhai
by anti-Jiang apparatchiks, Zeng is a dark horse who could even succeed
his mentor should heir apparent Hu Jintao falter.
RANKINGS
1-5 | 6-10 |
11-15 | 16-20
| 21-25 | 26-30
| 31-35 | 36-40
| 41-45 | 46-50
| next >>
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