Xi Jinping’s office bookshelf photos provide a rural backdrop for presidential New Year speech
Mainland television viewers decipher this year’s theme via homely portraits
As Chinese president Xi Jinping delivered his televised New Year speech from his office on Thursday night, many viewers were apparently more interested in comparing what new pictures and fixtures have been carefully placed in the president’s workplace.
As seen from the footage aired on CCTV, the state broadcaster, Xi had seven framed photographs placed in his office bookshelf that were not there in previous speeches.
They include two photos of Xi making speeches – one from September 3, the 70th anniversary of the defeat of Japan and the Axis powers in the second world war, and the other of Xi addressing the 70th regular session of United Nations General Assembly on September 28.
There were also several photos featuring Xi’s visits to rural areas, including Liang Jia He village in Shaanxi province, Gu Sheng village in Yunnan and Guangdong village in Jilin.
READ MORE: Xi Jinping visits border troops ahead of Chinese New Year
Two other photos show Xi meeting different groups in Beijing - one with children from the Young Pioneers wearing their trademark red scarves on June 1, and the other on September 30 at the Great Hall of the People with representatives from five autonomous regions including Tibet and Xinjiang.