{"id":14091,"date":"2012-09-18T20:09:19","date_gmt":"2012-09-18T20:09:19","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2012-09-18T20:09:19","modified_gmt":"2012-09-18T20:09:19","slug":"Chinese-leader-in-waiting-Xi-meets-Panetta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asiancemagazine.com\/?p=14091","title":{"rendered":"Chinese leader-in-waiting Xi meets Panetta"},"content":{"rendered":"

China’s leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping, whose disappearance from public view for two weeks this month prompted widespread rumors, today met visiting US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Xi<\/strong>, flanked by several Chinese military officers, shook hands with the Pentagon chief in a frenzy of camera flashes at a ceremony in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, according to an AFP reporter.<\/p>\n

It was Xi’s first public meeting with a foreign dignitary since he re-emerged at the weekend<\/strong> having vanished for a fortnight at a highly sensitive time, with China gearing up for a generational handover of power.<\/p>\n

The Chinese vice-president looked relaxed and healthy, and wore a dark blue suit with a pale blue tie.<\/p>\n

Xi smiled as he sat next to Panetta under grand chandeliers with a vast mural on the wall behind them<\/strong>, and said that seeing the American “reminds me of my visit to the United States” in February.<\/p>\n

Panetta responded that it was an “honor to have the opportunity to visit with you here” <\/strong>and he looked forward to discussing promoting security ties between “two great Pacific nations”.<\/p>\n

Xi’s unexplained disappearance had attracted global attention<\/strong>, as well as speculation on China’s popular but heavily censored microblogs, with theories about his health ranging from a backache to a heart attack.<\/p>\n

He has been widely tipped to succeed President Hu Jintao as leader of the ruling Communist Party at a crucial meeting that is expected to be held later in autumn, before taking over as head of state in March next year.<\/p>\n

During his absence earlier in September, he cancelled meetings with four foreign dignitaries, including visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.<\/p>\n

His first public appearance came on Saturday, when he was shown on state television visiting a university.<\/p>\n

The lengthy footage, along with reports on the official news agency Xinhua, did not give a reason for his disappearance.<\/p>\n

Source AP<\/em>
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