The Big Picture: One man's vision – How Xi Jinping's thinking has influenced the world. Chinese President Xi Jinping's goals have been ingrained in him since his early days in Fujian Province, where he spent 17 years (1985-2002) serving as vice mayor, then governor. The period has shaped and sharpened his tact as a political figure, from his thoughts on governance to fighting poverty, and opening up to the world. He has turned those ideas into actions, dreams into realities.