Zhao Leji, the Chairman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC), sparked speculation after his absence from the NPC’s closing session. Just one day later, he made a public appearance.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Zhao was seen in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon, meeting with employees from state-run media outlets. During the meeting, he thanked the media for their coverage and cooperation during the two sessions, which included the NPC and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
He specifically commended the media for their coverage, stating, “The media’s focused reporting on President Xi Jinping’s important activities vividly captured the emotional moments when President Xi discussed national governance with representatives from the two sessions.”
According to Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, Zhao appeared lively and engaged in the CCTV broadcast, interacting comfortably with attendees and speaking upbeat.
Zhao Leji explained earlier that he was absent from the NPC closing session on Tuesday due to a respiratory infection.
It marked the first time in decades that all members of the Communist Party of China’s Politburo Standing Committee were absent from the NPC closing session, sparking speculation about whether Zhao’s illness was genuine or if there were other underlying reasons for his absence.