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| China's Vice-President Xi Jinping in public appearance | China's Vice-President Xi Jinping in public appearance |
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| Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping has appeared in public for the first time in two weeks. | |
| Mr Xi, who is expected to become China's next leader, attended an event on Saturday to mark national science day, Xinghua news agency reported. | Mr Xi, who is expected to become China's next leader, attended an event on Saturday to mark national science day, Xinghua news agency reported. |
| No official explanation has been given for his absence, which fuelled widespread speculation. | No official explanation has been given for his absence, which fuelled widespread speculation. |
| There were rumours about the state of his health and suggestions of power struggles within the Communist party. | There were rumours about the state of his health and suggestions of power struggles within the Communist party. |
| However, on Saturday China's official news agency carried a brief report of Mr Xi's visit to the China Agricultural University in Beijing with a photograph showing the vice-president smiling and walking with other officials. | However, on Saturday China's official news agency carried a brief report of Mr Xi's visit to the China Agricultural University in Beijing with a photograph showing the vice-president smiling and walking with other officials. |
| Mr Xi, 59, cancelled meetings with four foreign dignitaries including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. | Mr Xi, 59, cancelled meetings with four foreign dignitaries including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. |
| On Thursday, Mr Xi was cited in state media for the first time in 12 days, expressing condolences over the death of a former general. | On Thursday, Mr Xi was cited in state media for the first time in 12 days, expressing condolences over the death of a former general. |
| During his absence, searches for Mr Xi's name on China's Twitter-like weibo micro-blogging sites have been blocked. | During his absence, searches for Mr Xi's name on China's Twitter-like weibo micro-blogging sites have been blocked. |
| He is expected to succeed President Hu Jintao as leader of the ruling Communist Party at a crucial meeting due to be held some time next month. | He is expected to succeed President Hu Jintao as leader of the ruling Communist Party at a crucial meeting due to be held some time next month. |