Fresh off his meth high and shooting spree (note: not really), Nicholas Kristof is really, really optimistic about China. Considering the type of China stories we usually encounter, let’s call this a breath of fresh air.
From the start, I’ve been optimistic about Xi Jinping and his administration. Melinda Liu of the Daily Beast has just outlined many of the reasons why:
People’s Daily has just published 23 photos of China’s Party Secretary, Xi Jinping (via Xinhua), from various stages of his life. In most of them — keeping with a theme — he looks ordinary. We’re sampling eight more after this top one — eight is auspicious, after all — but you should also check out... Read more »
Just yesterday, Michele Travierso tweeted, "I sense a Tumblr in the making" in response to pictures of Xi Jinping doing ordinary things on his Southern Tour.
The Internet works fast.
Presenting: Xi Jinping looking at things.
Look who’s making friends from both sides of the aisle. Explains Tea Leaf Nation’s David Weritime in the Atlantic: Xi Jinping, China’s new leader, has recently embarked on a low-key barnstorming of China’s entrepreneurial south. The mere fact of Xi’s visit is exciting to Chinese liberals, echoing as it does the “Southern Tour” of reformist... Read more »
CPC top dog Xi Jinping wants to lead by example. “The style of officials, particularly top officials, has an important impact upon the style of the Party and the style of the government and even on the whole of society,” according to a recently released statement. “Such a way of doing things must first start with the Standing Committee.”... Read more »
We — you, me, the world — might see outgoing president Hu Jintao as a wan robot less charismatic than a cardboard box, but there was a time during this man’s life when he was sprightly, good-humored, and jovial. Let this video — of a speech he gave in 1984, in front of colorful balloons —... Read more »
The above picture was taken in 2002, when Xi Jinping was the Zhejiang Party Secretary. Look at how strapping, happy, and young he is. Does he know, in that freeze frame, that he would one day ascend to the highest political seat in the People’s Republic of China? These were your halcyon days, Mr. President,... Read more »
By Allie Jaynes As many people have already discussed, Xi Jinping’s famous hot wife is presenting some issues for the PR folks at the CPC. You’d think having a singer babe on your team who devotes her spare time to anti-smoking campaigns and helping earthquake victims would be a windfall for the party’s propagandists. Apparently... Read more »
Xinhua via People’s Daily (h/t Alex Wang) We’ve been waiting for this. Caption: “Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan, Zhang Gaoli, who have been elected members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), arrive to meet... Read more »
