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China's heir apparent missing since Sep 1?
Xi went missing at a sensitive moment, as the 18th Congress of the
Communist Party, expected to elevate him to the top position of
general secretary, is due to be held within weeks, though,
curiously, no date has been announced, the Washington Post
reported Wednesday. »
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Washington: Chinese
leader Xi Jinping, who disappeared from public view weeks before a
Communist Party congress, has sent condolences over the death of
an official, a media report said.
CNN reported Thursday that the name of the presumptive Chinese
leader Xi Jinping has appeared in state media for the first time
in nearly two weeks.
The 59-year-old vice president's name appeared on a message of
condolence following the Sep 6 death of a former official in
Guangxi province.
"After the passing of Comrade Huang Rong, Hu Jintao, Xi Jinping,
Li Yuanchao, Zhu Rongji and Li Zhaozhuo expressed their
condolences and conveyed their deep sympathies to his family," it
said.
The vice-president's name appears second on the list after
President Hu.
The US broadcaster said the message did not have any direct quotes
from Xi, and its existence doesn't provide any explanation as to
why Xi has dropped from public view.
Xi has not been seen in public since Sep 1 when he was reported to
have given a speech to the Central Party School in Beijing.
Since then, there has been considerable speculation following the
cancellation of a number of meetings with high-profile foreign
dignitaries.
Xi's meeting with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton was
suddenly cancelled Sep 5.
No official reasons were also given for the cancellation of other
appointments, including a meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong.
CNN said the lack of an official comment has fuelled rumours,
including wild plot lines ranging from a car crash to an
assassination attempt. Others say Xi has been sidelined by a
suspected heart attack or stroke, neither of which have been
denied or confirmed.
"In most countries including in Asia, people are entitled to know
the health of their leaders, but in China this is still regarded
as state secrets," Willy Lam, a China watcher, was quoted as
saying.
China's leadership transition is keenly watched after Bo Xilai,
once a fast-rising star in the party, was stripped of his
leadership positions in April for an unspecified "breach of party
discipline". He has not been seen publicly since.
Bo's wife Gu Kailai was convicted last month of murdering Neil
Heywood, a British businessman, and received a suspended death
sentence.
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