China’s No 3 Zhao Leji returns to public spotlight after missing end of ‘two sessions’
The chairman of the National People’s Congress skipped its closing ceremony this week due to a respiratory tract infection
Zhao, the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), met state media employees in Beijing on Wednesday to thank them for their coverage of the annual legislative session.
Zhao, 68, missed Tuesday’s NPC closing ceremony because of a respiratory tract infection and left his deputy, Li Hongzhong, to preside over the event instead. He also missed Monday’s closing ceremony for the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
It was the first time in decades that the NPC closing meeting was not attended by all members of the Politburo Standing Committee, the Communist Party’s top leadership group.
In footage of Wednesday’s meeting aired on state broadcaster CCTV, Zhao appeared energetic, delivering speeches and interacting comfortably with participants.
He hosted a similar gathering in the previous two years. CPPCC chairman Wang Huning also held similar meetings with the media on Tuesday.