Media reports said Chinese President Xi Jinping was suffering from a ‘cerebral aneurysm’ and had to be hospitalized in late 2021.
It turns out that he preferred to be treated with traditional Chinese medicine rather than going for surgery, which softens the blood vessels and shrinks the aneurysm.
Of late, there has been speculation about Xi’s health as he avoided meeting with foreign leaders since the outbreak of COVID-19 until the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Earlier in March 2019, during Xi’s visit to Italy, his gait was observed to be unusually lame and later in France during the same tour, he was seen taking support while trying to sit.
Similarly, during an address to the public in Shenzhen in October 2020, his delay in appearance, slurred speech and coughing spree again fueled speculation about his ill health.
These reports come as China’s economy is under great stress due to rising oil and gas prices and supply chain disruptions due to the Ukraine conflict and strict implementation of the zero-COVID policy.
With the Chinese president’s historic third term in office, the country has, in a strategic move, decided to temporarily suspend its focus on “general prosperity”, fined tech giants, and instead stabilize the economy. Which is very little of the stress.
For the upcoming 20th Party Congress, the Communist Party of China (CCP) is moving away from its “general prosperity” policy as the country does not want to become a less attractive market for investors with the economic downturn, as per reports.
As Xi prepares to be re-elected for a third five-year term later this year, he has attempted to portray China under his rule as more prosperous, influential and stable.
The country’s officials, who until a few months ago were advertising a new era of “common prosperity”, fining tech giants and wealthy celebrities, have now shifted their focus to keeping the economy stable and growing.
This story has been published without modification in text from a wire agency feed. Only the title has been changed.