Xi Jinping arrives in Hong Kong for 25th anniversary celebrations

the president of ChinaXi Jinping arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday for the 25th anniversary of Britain’s handover of the territory, and after two years of changes that have brought the city under tighter Communist Party control.

In a choreographed event that the TV China broadcast live, students and others lined up on a red-carpeted railway station platform to greet the Chinese leader on his first trip outside the mainland in nearly two and a half years. Waving small Chinese and Hong Kong flags, the students chanted “welcome, welcome, warm welcome!” as local government chief Carrie Lam greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan.

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Xi greeted supporters on the platform and then greeted John Lee, the next head of government, Leung Chun-ying, the former leader of the territory, and other officials.

Under his leadership, China has transformed Hong Kong in the last two years, with a crackdown on protests and free speech and more patriotic material in schools. The changes have all but eliminated dissenting voices and caused many people to leave.

The ruling Communist Party claims it has restored stability to a city shaken by pro-democracy protests in 2019. Many democratic nations instead see Xi as undermining the freedoms and way of life that distinguished the city. of China continent and made it an international financial and commercial center.

In an apparent allusion to the 2019 protests, Xi said upon arrival that Hong Kong has overcome many challenges and has “risen from the ashes” with “vigorous vitality” After his meeting with Lam, he praised her for ending what he called the chaos in the city and ensuring that only the “patriotsThey will rule Hong Kong.

“As long as we stick to the ‘one country, two systems’ framework, Hong Kong will certainly have a brighter future and will make new and greater contributions to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese people.”he said in a speech at the Kowloon station.

Hong Kong and neighboring Macau are regions with special administrations with separate governments from the rest of Chinawhich is known as the China continental.

Xi has not left China since the COVID-19 pandemic spread. China has maintained a strict policy ofzero COVID” that aspires to eradicate the virus from its territory. Xi’s last trip was to Myanmar in January 2020.

After several visits and receptions in the city, the president and his wife were expected to spend the night in the city China from Shenzhen, 15 minutes from Hong Kong by fast train, and will return on Friday morning to attend the events on July 1.

Xi is expected to attend a ceremony on Friday to mark the return of the former British colony to Chinese control on July 1, 1997, and take part in the inauguration of the new Lee-led government.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.