Wednesday, 2 Jul 2025
America Age
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Font ResizerAa
America AgeAmerica Age
Search
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
America Age > Blog > World > China’s Xi hosts world leader banquet after two years of isolation
World

China’s Xi hosts world leader banquet after two years of isolation

Enspirers | Editorial Board
Share
China’s Xi hosts world leader banquet after two years of isolation
SHARE

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted a banquet on Saturday for heads of state and international organisations attending the Winter Olympics, part of a diplomatic blitz following nearly two years without face-to-face meetings due to the pandemic.

Dozens of dignitaries — many from autocratic nations friendly to Beijing — were treated to musical performances and a traditional handicrafts display alongside the meal at the Great Hall of the People, state media reported.

Xi has launched a diplomatic marathon in the leadup to the Games, meeting with Russian president and “old friend” Vladimir Putin on Friday and attending the Olympics opening ceremony later in the day with dozens of foreign guests.

This week’s meetings are a striking change for Xi, who has avoided travelling abroad or meeting foreign visitors face-to-face since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

China has largely closed its borders for the last two years in a zero-Covid strategy that has seen daily infections dwindle.

Beijing is keen to shore up international support and pull off a Games that will burnish its reputation, despite multiple countries including the United States, Australia, Britain and Canada announcing diplomatic boycotts over China’ rights record.

Besides Putin, the banquet guestlist included Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as a handful of leaders from Europe and Asia Pacific, according to Chinese state media.

Heads of international bodies including the World Health Organization’s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, whom state media said was among the Olympic torchbearers, were also invited.

The Chinese president had individual meetings with leaders on the sidelines of the banquet on Saturday, reaffirming his support for Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Beijing praised Tokayev’s “strong measures” against protesters earlier this year after the Kazakh leader took a hardline approach to quell demonstrations — including authorising his forces to shoot to kill.

Official photos showed a massive banquet table featuring a miniature winter landscape as its centrepiece, lit from above by crystal chandeliers.

CCTV showed masked guests including International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach inspecting traditional clay figurines and painted kites in the Great Hall of the People as a Chinese musical group played.

Xi was photographed greeting and posing for photographs with Putin on Friday with both men going maskless, even though the Russian leader had skipped the lengthy quarantine period normally required in China for people arriving from overseas.

tjx/rox/mtp

Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article UN experts: Darfur rebel groups make money in Libya UN experts: Darfur rebel groups make money in Libya
Next Article Amid Coups and Covid, Africa Focuses on What’s Most Important: Soccer Amid Coups and Covid, Africa Focuses on What’s Most Important: Soccer

Your Trusted Source for Accurate and Timely Updates!

Our commitment to accuracy, impartiality, and delivering breaking news as it happens has earned us the trust of a vast audience. Stay ahead with real-time updates on the latest events, trends.
FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
InstagramFollow
LinkedInFollow
MediumFollow
QuoraFollow
- Advertisement -
Ad image

Popular Posts

CNN Denies Diddy’s Declare That Community Altered Cassie Beating Video

CNN To Diddy We Did not Alter Cassie Beating Video!!! Printed March 13, 2025 4:45…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

US approves massive arms sale to Saudi, UAE to counter Iran

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Tuesday approved two massive arms sales to Saudi…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin back together 1 month after she filed for divorce

Mystery solved: Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin are indeed back together. The actor's rep confirmed…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Johnny Depp makes bizarre surprise cameo at 2022 VMAs: ‘I can’t stop laughing’

Johnny Depp in a spacesuit during the 2022 MTV VMAs. (Photo: MTV VMA 22/Getty Images)In…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

You Might Also Like

Not less than 16 folks killed and 400 injured in Kenyan protests
World

Not less than 16 folks killed and 400 injured in Kenyan protests

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
‘We won’t allow them to get away with this’: activists to sue Tanzania’s authorities over ‘sexual torture’
World

‘We won’t allow them to get away with this’: activists to sue Tanzania’s authorities over ‘sexual torture’

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Witnesses describe grim aftermath of Israeli strike on busy Gaza cafe
World

Witnesses describe grim aftermath of Israeli strike on busy Gaza cafe

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Temperature data shatter as heatwave grips Europe and UK data hottest day of yr – because it occurred
World

Temperature data shatter as heatwave grips Europe and UK data hottest day of yr – because it occurred

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
America Age
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


America Age: Your instant connection to breaking stories and live updates. Stay informed with our real-time coverage across politics, tech, entertainment, and more. Your reliable source for 24/7 news.

Company
  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • WP Creative Group
  • Accessibility Statement
Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability
Terms of Use
  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?