CCTV FOLLIES 12.09 Xi Jinping in Arabia
-Motorcade with Saudi characteristics
-Audience within an audience
-Xi hemmed in by Saudi protocol
-Like a fish out of water
-Xi regains his mojo in meetings with Egypt, Palestine
-Motorcade with Saudi characteristics
-Audience within an audience
-Xi hemmed in by Saudi protocol
-Like a fish out of water
-Xi regains his mojo in meetings with Egypt, Palestine
The December 9 news opens with a Xi motorcade, but this one is a little different. Motorcycles accompany his car from the airport to Riyadh, after which the Saudi cavalry takes over.
The arrival of the foreign VIP is trumpeted.
Prime Minister MBS greets Xi
Prime Minister MBS greets Xi
They pause as respective national anthems are played
Xi may be building an anti-Western coalition, but he's the most Western-dressed man in the room.
A touching moment of cultural parity. FM Wang Yi and PM MBS exchange traditional greetings, to each his own.
Xi is more of a handshake man. Here he is seen greeting the elderly king.
Xi looks jet-lagged and a bit out of his element as, for the first time in a long time, he has to sit back and listen and let others do most of the talking.
Two unveiled women from China bring a touch of cosmopolitan sensibility to the all-male Saudi conclave.
Xi smiles bemusedly as his host dominates the discussion.
Xi claps in the background as FM Wang Yi exchanges document books with his Saudi counterpart.
Group portrait in front of portrait
(Not on CCTV)
An awkward scene not included in CCTV's coverage was the moment where Xi was forced to step forward to receive Saudi documents.
An awkward scene not included in CCTV's coverage was the moment where Xi was forced to step forward to receive Saudi documents.
Xi can be uncomfortable with unscripted discussion as exemplified by his testy meeting with Justin Trudeau in Bali. Here he looks anxious to get out of the room.
Xi finally gets to reassert himself as master of his domain in a hotel ballroom controlled by the Chinese side where he reasserts Chinese-style protocol.
As was seen in Bangkok, where he comandeered the ballroom of the Oriental Hotel, he likes to "host" foreign leaders even when he is in a foreign country. CCTV can control the footage, Xi controls the conversation.
Here he does most of the talking as the President of Egypt listens attentively. Xi is flanked by Wang Yi and his note-taking cronies. He's even got his Chinese tea cup with him.
Xi pauses for a moment to let his "guest" speak.
President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi heartily congratulates Xi Jinping on the success of the 20th Party Congress in October...
A meeting with Chinese protocol characteristics follows with Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine.
Xi's back in his game.
Xi's back in his game.
@threadreaderapp unroll #scrolly
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
