Ex-prez escorted out of party meet

BEIJING: The Communist Party of China (CPC) wrapped up its twice-a-decade national congress on Saturday but not before in an unusually dramatic development former president Hu Jintao had to be escorted out of the venue of the key party meet by aides without any explanation offered.

It was all going according to the script when around half-way into the proceedings of the closing ceremony, Hu, 79 - sitting between President Xi Jinping and Li Zhanshu, a member of the outgoing politburo standing committee at the Great Hall of the People - got up from his seat, appearing unsteady.

Hu was sitting on the front row along with current and former leaders on the stage with 2,296 Congress delegates in front.

Besides the delegates and the CPC’s top leadership, the incident was witnessed by members of the domestic and foreign media corp, some of whom had just walked into the central hall to cover the remaining part of the closing ceremony.

After getting up, Hu briefly talked with Xi and Premier Li Keqiang, before stewards at the venue were seen quietly speaking with him, according to footage and photos circulated by AFP and Channel News Asia.

Hu appeared to speak to Xi and then with Li before the stewards on duty at the Great Hall led the former president out.

Neither Xi nor Li got up from their seats to help the frail former leader; when Li Zhanshu, who appeared concerned, attempted to get up from his seat to help Hu, another top leader, Wang Huning, signalled him to sit down.

The former president did appear to resist being escorted out of the meeting but finally left with two stewards on his side.

AP Ex-Chinese president Hu Jintao (centre) touches the shoulder of Premier Li Keqiang as he is assisted to leave the hall during the closing ceremony in Beijing on Saturday.