Chinese Leader Xi Jinping chaired a private enterprise symposium in Beijing today (17th), where the recent negative rumors surrounding the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Politburo Standing Committee member, Ding Xuexiang, surfaced, raising concerns about his possible mobility issues.
According to Xinhua News Agency, on the morning of February 17th, Xi Jinping attended the private enterprise symposium in Beijing and delivered a speech. Senior CCP officials Li Qiang and Ding Xuexiang were present at the symposium, with Wang Huning presiding over the event.
The appearance of Ding Xuexiang at this meeting has drawn significant attention.
Ding Xuexiang, who is in charge of technology work as a vice premier, was absent from the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology Summit held in Paris on February 10th, and Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing attended on his behalf. He also oversees cultural and educational health matters but was missing from the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games held in Harbin on February 7th. Consequently, rumors have been circulating in recent days speculating that he might have encountered trouble in the high-level power struggles.
Earlier, Yu Jianhua, the director of the General Administration of Customs of the CCP, died on December 10th last year, with rumors suggesting that it was a suicide. Independent commentator Cai Shenkun revealed that Yu Jianhua was involved in a major corruption case, with Ding Xuexiang speculated to be connected to the case.
Ding Xuexiang is the youngest among the seven members of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee of the 20th Central Committee, born in 1962. Therefore, some people believe that he might be the successor to CCP leader Xi Jinping. Recent speculations have largely focused on whether Ding Xuexiang has gotten into trouble because he desires to be the successor.
However, Ding Xuexiang has now made a public appearance, but from the CCTV video footage, he appears to be limping while walking.