He held up stalks of wheat and made small talk with farmers. He stood side by side with workers at an oil plant and spoke of building an “invincible” China. He called for China to become more “self-reliant” in the face of a trade dispute with the United States.
President Xi Jinping of China this week visited the northeast for what the state-run media called a three-day inspection tour. But the trip was much more than that. It was a chance for Mr. Xi to put himself on a pedestal with Mao Zedong, to rekindle a populist image and to fire back at President Trump and “protectionist” policies.
President Xi Jinping of China this week visited the northeast for what the state-run media called a three-day inspection tour. But the trip was much more than that. It was a chance for Mr. Xi to put himself on a pedestal with Mao Zedong, to rekindle a populist image and to fire back at President Trump and “protectionist” policies.
