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China's Xi Jinping in first key meeting since absence China's Xi Jinping in first key meeting since absence
(about 3 hours later)
China's Vice-President Xi Jinping has met US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta in Beijing, in his first key meeting after a two-week absence. China's Vice-President Xi Jinping has met US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta in Beijing, in his first key meeting after two weeks out of public sight.
Mr Xi's unexplained absence from public fuelled widespread rumours over his health and a political struggle. Mr Xi's unexplained absence fuelled widespread rumours over his health and a political struggle.
He is expected to become China's next Communist Party chief and president. Mr Panetta said after the meeting that the vice-president appeared to be in good physical and mental health.
But he was unable to shed any light on the reasons for Mr Xi's temporary disappearance from public view.
Mr Xi is expected to become China's next Communist Party chief and president.
The country is due to hold a key party congress in coming weeks that will see major changes in the top echelons of leadership.The country is due to hold a key party congress in coming weeks that will see major changes in the top echelons of leadership.
However, no date has been set for the conference, which will be watched closely.However, no date has been set for the conference, which will be watched closely.
Mr Panetta is in Beijing for talks with his counterpart and top Chinese leaders, as part of an Asian tour that also includes Japan and New Zealand.Mr Panetta is in Beijing for talks with his counterpart and top Chinese leaders, as part of an Asian tour that also includes Japan and New Zealand.
It is his first visit to China as Pentagon chief.It is his first visit to China as Pentagon chief.
Mr Xi, accompanied by military officials, said seeing Mr Panetta reminded him of his visit to the United States in February, and that his visit will help in ''further advancing the state-to-state and military-to-military relations between our two countries". Back injury
"I sincerely wish your visit will be a good success," said Mr Xi. "Frankly my impression was that he [Mr Xi] was very healthy and very engaged," Mr Panetta said.
While the defence secretary was not able to explain the reasons for Mr Xi's absence, former Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa told CNN on Tuesday that Mr Xi had suffered a back injury.
Mr Tung said that he believed that Mr Xi suffered the injury while swimming. Correspondents say that it was the clearest explanation so far from a top party insider.
"He hurt himself in sports and he's now recovered and he's now back at work," Mr Tung - who has strong ties with China's top leaders - said.
Sources quoted by the Reuters news agency said that Mr Xi had been obeying doctors' orders to get bed rest and undergo physiotherapy. Leaders' health is typically considered a state secret in China.
The refusal of the official media to say what had happened to Mr Xi fuelled speculation that he may have had a heart attack, a stroke, undergone emergency cancer surgery or even been the subject of an attempted assassination.
Mr Panetta said after Wednesday's meeting that he was "very impressed" with Mr Xi who appeared well-informed and committed to improving US-China relations.
Correspondents say that the meeting between the pair - originally scheduled to last 45 minutes - lasted for longer than an hour because Mr Xi wanted more time for discussions.
Mr Xi, accompanied by military officials, said seeing Mr Panetta reminded him of his visit to the United States in February, and that his visit would help in ''further advancing the state-to-state and military-to-military relations between our two countries".
"I sincerely wish your visit will be a good success," he said.
'Expand trust''Expand trust'
Mr Panetta, who met his Chinese counterpart Liang Guanglie on Tuesday, has called for closer military contact between the US and China.Mr Panetta, who met his Chinese counterpart Liang Guanglie on Tuesday, has called for closer military contact between the US and China.
"The key is to have senior-level interactions that we are engaging in to reduce the potential of miscalculation, and boost real understanding and expand trust between our countries," he said."The key is to have senior-level interactions that we are engaging in to reduce the potential of miscalculation, and boost real understanding and expand trust between our countries," he said.
His visit comes as the US increases its military presence in Asia - which Washington has stressed is not directed at China, says the BBC's Martin Patience. His visit comes as the US increases its military presence in Asia. Washington has stressed the shift is not directed at China, says the BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing.
But Beijing remains wary about any American moves in the region, particularly Washington's close ties with Japan.But Beijing remains wary about any American moves in the region, particularly Washington's close ties with Japan.
Chinese officials have called on the US to remain neutral over China's on-going territorial dispute with Tokyo, which has sparked violent protests in recent days.
But the US has concerns of its own, says our correspondent. It is seeking greater transparency on China's military programmes.But the US has concerns of its own, says our correspondent. It is seeking greater transparency on China's military programmes.
Rumours and speculation
Mr Xi cancelled several meetings with visiting foreign dignitaries, including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, earlier this month.Mr Xi cancelled several meetings with visiting foreign dignitaries, including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, earlier this month.
The uncharacteristic move in a country highly conscious of protocol sparked off a series of rumours over the state of Mr Xi's health, with suggestions ranging from a back injury to more serious conditions. The uncharacteristic move in a country highly conscious of protocol sparked off a series of rumours over the state of Mr Xi's health.
His ''disappearance'' and the lack of an official statement, coupled with there being no clear date for the party congress, also prompted speculation of a power struggle within the Communist party. His ''disappearance'' and the lack of an official statement, coupled with the lack of a clear date for the party congress, also prompted speculation of a power struggle within the Communist party.
Some analysts said that some of the seats on the nine-strong politburo Standing Committee could still have been unallocated. Mr Xi re-emerged in the public eye on Saturday, as state media published photographs of him attending an event.
There have also been suggestions that the number of seats for the top leadership ranks may be reduced from the current nine to seven.
Mr Xi re re-emerged in the public eye on Saturday, as state media published photographs of him attending an event. No explanation was given for his absence.
Another Xinhua news agency report this week said Mr Xi will attend a China-Asean trade event in the city of Nanning next week.
It is not clear if Mr Xi will be meeting leaders from the 10-nation regional bloc, who will be at the event from 21 to 25 September. Burmese President Thein Sein is among those scheduled to attend.