An interesting tid-bit from Hu Jintao’s tour of Japan, via news.sohu.com:

Yesterday [May 9, 2008] afternoon, Hu Jintao visited Yokohama Yamate Chinese School, marking the first time any high-level Chinese leader has visited an overseas Chinese school. During his visit, Mr. Hu audited a third grade Chinese class and taught children to read the Tang Dynasty poem “Reflection in the Quiet Night.”

During Hu’s visit, eight-year-old Songtian Haoji stood up and asked the Chinese leader: “Grandpa Hu, why did you want to be the president?”

His question inspired laughter in the classroom.

“I want to tell you, I myself did not want to be the president,” Mr. Hu answered. “It was the people in the whole country who voted me in, and wanted me to be the president. I should not let the people throughout the whole country down.”