Chinese president’s mother and sister in rare media appearance in tribute to Xi Jinping’s father
- To mark the 110th anniversary of Xi Zhongxun’s birth, Chinese state television airs documentary series about his life and influence
- Xi Jinping’s mother Qi Xin, 97, says her husband required his children to be humble and ‘avoid having a sense of superiority’
In an interview for the series, Qi Xin recalled her husband saying he required his children to be humble and “avoid having a sense of superiority” as the offspring of cadres.
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She also recalled the elder Xi stressing the importance of focusing on work and studies, which she said “can be used as a motto … and it can be passed on and be useful for future generations”.
In another episode, Qi said that during Xi Zhongxun’s revolutionary career, “he did not present himself as a cadre but as an ordinary member of the public … this is why he was said to be a leader of the mass who emerged from the mass”.
The series cited an article written by Qi Xin, who noted that: “Under Zhongxun’s influence, being diligent and thrifty has become our family values.”
In the interview, Qi is seen speaking in front of a photo of the elder Xi. She wears a warm-coloured shirt and glasses, appearing to express sentences fluently and clearly while in good spirits. The broadcaster did not specify when the interviews were conducted.