China Xi Out of Public Eye for Extended Period After Hong Kong Visit

[xizhimen]

Xi Out of Public Eye for Extended Period After Hong Kong Visit​

• No reports of Chinese leader at public event since July 1
• Xi met with Hong Kong lawmaker who tested positive days later

Bloomberg News
2022年7月14日 GMT+8 下午12:58

President Xi Jinping hasn’t made a reported public appearance for 13 days since returning from a landmark trip to Hong Kong that was his first outside mainland China since the pandemic’s outset.
The gap in his schedule is the largest on record for this year, according to a government database that details the president’s whereabouts. The reason for his absence is unclear and often low-key public appearances by Xi are made public days after the event, possibly for security reasons. State media has, however, reported on written messages attributed to Xi sent during this period.

The Chinese leader was last absent for an extended period between Feb. 7 and 16, around the time of the Beijing Winter Olympics. He also disappeared from public view between Aug. 1 and 16 last year, during a period when China’s political elite typically clear their schedules to huddle in the Beidaihe seaside resort. Top leaders Li Keqiang and Wang Yang have both held public events in recent days, suggesting this conclave is yet to happen this year.

Xi, whose vaccination status is still unknown, left Hong Kong on July 1 after a two-day trip to celebrate the city’s 25th year of Beijing’s rule, during which he stayed overnight in the neighboring Chinese tech hub Shenzhen.

Lawmaker Steven Ho tested positive for Covid-19 two days after posing on June 30 for a group photograph with Xi, writing on social media that his PCR test had contained “a low viral load” on July 1 -- the day after he met the Chinese leader.

The visit marked the first time Xi had set foot in a city with thousands of daily virus cases and was his inaugural trip outside mainland China since going to Myanmar in January 2020, days before locking down the central city of Wuhan. The Chinese president’s unbending Covid Zero policy of eliminating cases has led him to stop all international travel, instead attending major political summits by video link.

Wong Kwan-yu, president of the pro-Beijing Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, said on July 6 that Xi had “risked his life to come to Hong Kong to give a speech,” the South China Morning Post reported.

China currently requires inbound travelers to quarantine for seven days at a hotel or government facility, followed by three days at home. The change announced last month was seen as the country’s biggest shift in its strict Covid Zero policy, but it is unclear whether Xi would have to comply with such regulations.

 

[Jagdflieger]

The last thing I would worry about is Xi's health and personal security issues.

But he must be again under tremendous pressure within the CCP and it's factions. I really wouldn't want to take on his job.

 

[xizhimen]

It turned out Xi now is traveling in Xinjiang, he doesn't seem to worry to get too close to the crowds after Shinzo Abe's assasination.

Xi Jinping inspects Urumqi city in China's Xinjiang​

Xi Jinping inspects Xinjiang's Turpan City​

 

[xizhimen]

Most of China is covid free, Chinese leaders are confident enough to mingle with the locals without wearing masks.

 

[Jagdflieger]

Most of China is covid free, Chinese leaders are confident enough to mingle with the locals without wearing masks.

Let's hope so - just a day ago again a new imported variant has been detected - and usually Beijing starts to act in the known manner in such a case.
And again it starts off in bars and airports - this time it seems to be an illegally operated "enjoyment" place.

 

[xizhimen]

Let's hope so - just a day ago again a new imported variant has been detected - and usually Beijing starts to act in the known manner in such a case.
And again it starts off in bars and airports - this time it seems to be an illegally operated "enjoyment" place.

Beijing has been covid free for days, at least for Beijing, people now finally can take a long breath of relief. knock on wood.

 

[xizhimen]

Xi doesn't wear a mask outside but some times does wear a mask indoors in Xinjiang

 

[Jagdflieger]

Many Chinese and foreigners including myself, only wear a mask indoors. Just doesn't make sense wearing them outside unless there is a larger congregation. Which in the first photo is obviously happening ..hm..

 

[xizhimen]

Xinjiang no longer a remote corner, but a core area, hub in BRI: Xi​

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Global Times
Jul 16, 2022, 04:17 ET

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BEIJING, July 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eight years after his visit to China's Xinjiang region in 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a second trip to the northwest region and stressed efforts to fully and faithfully implement the policies of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for the governance of Xinjiang in the new era, highlighting social stability and lasting security as the overarching goal and the region's significant role in building the Belt and Road Initiative.

Analysts said Xi's visit to Xinjiang signals that after achieving fundamental changes from disturbance to stability, the Xinjiang region is entering a new phase of being built into the bridgehead of China's westward opening-up.

While staying in the Xinjiang region from Tuesday to Friday, President Xi visited many places in Urumqi, including Xinjiang University, the Urumqi International Land Port Area, the Guyuanxiang community in Tianshan District and the Museum of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. He also went to Shihezi and Turpan and inspected villages and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) and had communications with local residents.

On Friday afternoon, residents of all ethnic groups saw off Xi with prolonged applause before his return to Beijing.

During the visit, President Xi also called for developing Xinjiang into a region that is united, harmonious, prosperous, and culturally advanced, with healthy ecosystems and people living and working in contentment.

Xi's visit to the Xinjiang region is a strong and significant indication that while maintaining prolonged stability and achieving economic development, Xinjiang region is stepping into a new phase of economic development and has been built as a core hub for the building of China's Belt and Road Initiative and the bridgehead for westward opening-up, Wang Yuting, associate professor of the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

Soon after Xi's visit to Xinjiang in 2014, the second symposium on the region's work was held in May in Beijing and stressed long-term stability as the main goal for the region. Under this guidance, over the past eight years, the region has experienced fundamental changes, going from disturbance to social stability.

After getting rid of the influence of terrorist attacks, Xinjiang and the whole western region of China have realized stability, laying the foundation for China to further boost its western region and deepen cooperation with Central and West Asian countries, said Wang Yuting, noting that Xinjiang's role as a core hub of the Silk Road Economic Belt has significant strategic value and meaning, especially amid the global changes brought by the Ukraine crisis.

While Xinjiang has achieved social stability, safeguarding this hard-won situation is not easy, Wang Jiang, an expert at the Institute of China's Borderland Studies at Zhejiang Normal University, told the Global Times.

Achieving long-term stability requires long-term prosperity, and to achieve long prosperity, the region should be integrated into the nation's development. Building it as a hub for westward opening-up aims to help it find new places in global trade and to break the US economic blockade on the region, Wang Jiang said.

In addition to economic development, ethnic unity and cultural heritage were also key words for President Xi's visits in Xinjiang. While staying in Urumqi, President Xi visited the Guyuanxiang community in Tianshan district. Xi said he pays great attention to community work and is very glad to see local communities thriving. Xi also watched a Manas performance and said that Chinese civilization is extensive and profound, and has a long history stretching back to antiquity.

Wang Yuting also pointed out that President Xi's visit in Xinjiang also showcased China's enriched policy for the governance of Xinjiang in the new era, including maintaining stability in the region through ethnic unity, nurturing the cultures of Xinjiang, promoting prosperity among the local residents, and developing Xinjiang from a long-term perspective.

Cultures of ethnic groups in Xinjiang are also important parts of Chinese culture and this is why President Xi went to the museums and stressed heritage protection, the expert noted.

Global Times: Xinjiang no longer a remote corner, but a core area, hub in BRI: Xi

/PRNewswire/ -- Eight years after his visit to China's Xinjiang region in 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a second trip to the northwest region and...

www.prnewswire.com

 

[xizhimen]

China’s Xi Jinping Meets PLA Troops In Xinjiang Bordering Ladakh​

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who visited Xinjiang from July 12 to 15 where his government is widely accused of oppressing predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities, extended greetings to all the commanders and troops stationed in the province.

UPDATED: 16 JUL 2022 6:58 PM

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who made a rare visit this week to the restive Xinjiang region which borders Ladakh, met the troops and officers stationed there and praised their “outstanding contributions” to the border defence and stabilisation of the volatile province.

Xi, who heads the Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high command of the Chinese military, met the representatives of the officers and soldiers stationed in Xinjiang in the provincial capital Urumqi on Friday.

Xi, who visited the border province from July 12 to 15 where his government is widely accused of oppressing predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities, extended greetings to all the commanders and fighters of the troops stationed in the province and fully affirmed the "outstanding contributions" made by the troops stationed in the region, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Photos in the official media showed that besides the top brass of the Western Theatre Command of the PLA, which oversees the 3,488-km-long LAC between India and China, Qi Fabao, the regimental commander of the PLA who was injured during the June 2020 clash at Galwan in eastern Ladakh was also present at the meeting. He was subsequently honoured with “hero regiment commander for defending the border."

While full details of his address were not released, official media reports said that President Xi emphasised that it is necessary to implement the ruling Communist Party's idea of strengthening the Army in the new era, implement the military strategic policy of the new era, and actively contribute to promoting social stability and long-term stability in Xinjiang.

Xi's meeting with the troops is significant as the Xinjiang Military Command of the People’s Liberation Amy (PLA) oversees the India-China border in the Ladakh region amidst a military standoff between the two sides since May 2020.

Also, his meeting with the Chinese troops in Xinjiang took place ahead of the 16th round of military talks between India and China to be held on Sunday.

India has been pressing for quick disengagement of troops from all the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh, insisting that peace and tranquillity along the border are prerequisites for progress in overall bilateral ties.

Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in the fierce combat in Galwan Valley on June 15 in 2020, an incident that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides. After prolonged delay, China acknowledged four casualties on its side.

At the fresh round of talks on Sunday, the Indian side is expected to press for disengagement of troops as soon as possible in all the remaining friction points besides seeking resolution of issues in Depsang Bulge and Demchok.

As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides have completed the disengagement process last year in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.

Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive mountainous sector.

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