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Smiles, a few words … China’s new premier makes his debut next to Xi Jinping
- Li Qiang looked relaxed and comfortable as he addressed the opening ceremony of the legislative session
- He appeared to have the approval of the president, with the pair making eye contact and exchanging words
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The start of China’s annual legislative session on Tuesday was closely watched – not just for Premier Li Qiang’s address but for any clues it offered about the dynamics between the top leaders.
Chinese politics is opaque, so the body language of leaders and their interaction during these rare public occasions can speak volumes.
Li – who will not speak to the press at the end of this year’s session, breaking with a three-decade tradition for Chinese premiers – looked relaxed and comfortable as he delivered his first government work report in less than an hour at the National People’s Congress in Beijing.
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That could be because he had the approval of the most important person in the room. After giving his speech, Li appeared to receive endorsement from Xi Jinping – the pair made eye contact and a smiling Li exchanged a few words with the president, who was seated beside him.
Later, Li had a longer discussion with the president, leaning forward attentively as they spoke, as the NPC vice-chairman addressed the meeting. The premier also had a brief exchange with Cai Qi, the president’s chief of staff, who was seated on his other side.
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Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers his first work report amid concerns about state of the economy
Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers his first work report amid concerns about state of the economy
It was quite a different story for Li’s predecessor, Li Keqiang, in recent years when there was minimal interaction with Xi during the NPC.
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