Opinion | More Chinese bureaucrats complain of 'exhausting' wining and dining

The vice-mayor of a certain “mountainous city” in southern China’s Guangxi province said he was “sick to death” of attending multiple meetings and reception dinners in a single day.

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Published: 12:10pm, 9 Jan 2013Updated: 2:03pm, 9 Jan 2013

An unlikely group of individuals may also be heralding Xi Jinping's pledge to curb expensive red carpet pomp, initially a bid to defuse public anger over graft.

The vice-mayor of a certain “mountainous city” in southern China’s Guangxi province told reporters from the People’s Daily earlier this week that he was “sick to death” of attending multiple meetings and reception dinners in a single day.

In one day, the vice-mayor said, he had to attend two meetings on finance and taxation to discuss fiscal matters; and three inspections from the central government inspection teams to discuss administration issues and investment in an autonomous region. To add to his misery, he also had to attend three dinner banquets.

Official receptions are a regularity at this time of the year in China, as members of the National People’s Congress and the People’s Political Consultative Conference carry out their annual leadership appraisals and inspections.

“These people are all our guests. A lot of them actually come for work and to help our city, we cannot offend them,” he said.

The incident drew parallels with a similar case last month in which a mid-level government official complained of having to receive guests at a sauna and spa, eight times in a single day. He also had to eat four breakfasts in one morning.