The immediate predecessor of President Xi Jinping appeared bewildered and slightly dazed as he was escorted away by his subordinates. The Chinese official media reports that Mr. Hu was escorted away “to rest” because he was “not feeling well.”
Former Chinese president Hu Jintao was unceremoniously hauled out of the Communist Party’s closing ceremony.
Two stewards escorted the 79-year-old, who was sat to the left of President Xi Jinping, out of the main auditorium of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Mr. Hu, Mr. Xi’s immediate predecessor, appeared puzzled and disoriented as he was escorted out by his assistants. At one point, he appeared to resist departing by returning to his seat.
On his way out, he exchanged words with Mr. Xi and extended a hand to Premier Li Keqiang.
Mr. Hu appeared rather wobbly when he was helped onto the same stage for the opening ceremony of the congress last Sunday.
According to Chinese official media, Mr. Hu was “not feeling well” and was escorted out of the session to “rest,” and he is now “much better.”
Liu Jiawen, a reporter for Xinhuanet, reported that Mr. Hu “insisted” on attending the concluding session despite having recently “recuperated.”
Four of the seven members of the nation’s all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee will not be reappointed on Sunday, including the nation’s second-highest official and major advocate of economic reforms, Premier Li.
The four were not on the list of the new 205-member Central Committee of the Communist Party that was adopted during the Saturday closing session. Only members of the Central Committee may serve on the Standing Committee.
In addition, congress adopted a revision to the party’s constitution that could enhance Mr. Xi’s standing as China’s leader.
The substance of the statement has not yet been released, but before its approval, an announcer read the rationale behind it and frequently cited Mr. Xi’s successes in bolstering the military and economy and bolstering the party’s leadership.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Xi stated that the revision “establishes clear prerequisites for maintaining and bolstering the party’s general leadership.”
At the 2017 party convention, Mr. Xi’s ideals, known as Xi Jinping Thought, were enshrined in the party’s constitution, elevating his standing.
Mr. Xi will virtually certainly be selected for a third term, which could theoretically make him the leader for life.
