Hu Jintao exchanges words with President Xi Jinping as he is escorted out of the hall
(Picture: Getty Images)Former Chinese president Hu Jintao was escorted out of the closing ceremony of the Communist Party Congress because he was “not feeling well”, state media has said.
Hu, 79, appeared reluctant to be ushered from the front row of proceedings at the Great Hall of the People on Saturday, where he was sitting next to President Xi Jinping.
Footage showed a steward trying to take Hu, who was China’s leader from 2003 to 2013, by the arm before being shaken off by the frail former president.
After a brief exchange, in which Hu spoke briefly with Xi and Premier Li Keqiang, he was led out of the hall.
Early drama: Hu Jintao seen being led out soon after reporters are led into the main hall pic.twitter.com/pRffGZF60I
— Danson Cheong (@dansoncj) October 22, 2022
China’s official news agency Xinhua has now claimed that he left the hall because he was feeling unwell.
They wrote in a tweet late on Saturday: “Xinhuanet reporter Liu Jiawen has learned that Hu Jintao insisted on attending the closing session of the party’s 20th national congress, despite the fact that he has been taking time to recuperate recently.”
A second tweet said: “When he was not feeling well during the session, his staff, for his health, accompanied him to a room next to the meeting venue for a rest. Now, he is much better.
However, Ex-British diplomat Roger Garside said the manoeuvre was likely a “show of power” from Xi.
It comes after Xi secured a historic third term in power on the last day of Communist Party Congress.
The congress in Beijing also approved an amendment to the constitution that Xi said "sets out clear requirements for upholding and strengthening the party’s leadership".
Xi, who took power in 2012, was awarded a third five-year term as general secretary, discarding a party custom under which his predecessor left after 10 years.
The 69-year-old leader is expected by some to try to stay in power for life.
