Zhao Leji’s Absence from NPC Closing Raises Concerns Over Health
Zhao Leji, the chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, was absent from the closing of the NPC due to illness. This marked the first instance in decades where all Politburo Standing Committee members did not attend. Deputy NPC chief Li Hongzhong presided over the session in Zhao’s absence, citing a respiratory tract infection as the reason for his leave.
Zhao Leji, the third-ranking official within China’s ruling Communist Party and chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, was notably absent from the closing session of the NPC on Tuesday. His last appearance in public occurred during the initial meeting of the NPC presidium on Saturday, marking an unusual occurrence in decades where an NPC closing meeting lacked the presence of all Politburo Standing Committee members.
Deputy NPC chief Li Hongzhong presided over the closing ceremony in Zhao’s absence, having been entrusted to do so by Zhao himself. Li announced that Zhao had taken leave from the meeting due to a respiratory tract infection. Additionally, Zhao was absent from the closing of the annual session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), held on the preceding Monday, an event attended by the remaining six Politburo Standing Committee members, including President Xi Jinping.
It has been customary since the 1980s for all senior leaders of the ruling party to attend both the opening and closing ceremonies of the annual NPC and CPPCC sessions, practices known collectively as the “two sessions.” These sessions serve not only as legislative and advisory gatherings but also as key opportunities for party and government leaders to engage with insights from Chinese elites on the nation’s most urgent matters.
Zhao Leji’s absence from the crucial closing sessions of the NPC and CPPCC highlights an abnormality in the adherence to political norms among top Chinese leaders. His reported respiratory tract infection raises questions regarding his health and the continuity of leadership amidst these significant political events.
Original Source: www.scmp.com
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