Xi Jinping Appears In Public First Time After SCO Summit Amid 'House Arrest' Rumours

The 69-year-old leader's appearance comes as the Communist Party of China is all set to hold its once-in-a-five-year Congress on October 16

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday made a public appearance for the first time after returning from the SCO leaders' summit amid rumours that the President has been put under house arrest as part of an alleged military coup by the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Xi visited the exhibition displaying the achievements of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the country over the past decade, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The President was accompanied by Premier Li Keqiang among other top officials as he took a tour of the exhibition. 

In his speech, the President appealed for concerted efforts to forge ahead determinedly toward a new victory of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Xi also stressed CPC and China’s achievements under his leadership during the past 10 years.

“The Party and the State have made historic achievements and undergone historic changes, providing a more perfect system, a more solid material foundation and more active spiritual power to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” Xi was quoted by the agency.

“We should publicise the milestone significance of the great changes in the last decade in the history of the Party, the history of new China," added the leader.

Observers say that Xi not being seen in public may have been due to seven days of mandatory quarantine in a designated place followed by a three-day homestay as per the official guidelines for those returning from abroad under the Dynamic Zero COVID policy, firmly advocated by Xi himself.

His absence sparked rumours of tensions within the CPC which is all set to hold its once-in-a-five-year Congress on October 16 in which 69-year-old Xi is widely expected to get endorsement for a record third term.

(With PTI inputs)