Advertisement

Opinion | Xi Jinping's 'emotional intelligence' comments spark debate

Reading Time:1 minute
Why you can trust SCMP
0
Chinese President Xi Jinping inspects a research lab in Tianjin. Photo: Xinhua

It’s not your educational background, integrity, experience, or people you know that matters. What it takes to be a good communist leader is “emotional intelligence”, or EQ, says Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

Xi enlightened his audience during a  recent visit to a job fair in Tianjin while talking to a local village official.

"Intelligence quotient and emotional quotient - which is more important?,” he asked.

After an official said “both”, Xi answered his own question,

“EQ is important for adapting to society, although it should be used together with professional knowledge and techniques,"  he said.

His talk sparked a flurry of media reports and analysis.

Advertisement