Moments before the BRICS plenary session began in Johannesburg on Wednesday, an aide of Chinese President Xi Jinping was reportedly stopped by security officials as he was trying to catch up with the President.
A viral video shows the President entering the hall of the venue, but as his aide tried to catch up with him, South African security officials blocked him from further entering as his movements raised suspicion. The President then looked behind several times to understand what was going on.
Russian state-run news channel Russia Today said in a tweet, "A Chinese official was seen lagging behind Xi Jinping at the summit in South Africa. As he attempted to catch up within the president, his movements raised the suspicions of security personnel."
Meanwhile, the Chinese President also unexpecredly skipped a scheduled speech at a key business forum held by the BRICS economic group in South Africa on Tuesday. According to a report by The Guardian, Xi was expected to attend the forum and deliver remarks alongside other leaders on Tuesday, as per the summit's schedule. But instead his speech was read out by his commerce minister, Wang Wentao.
However, Xi later attended the summit dinner, without giving an explanation for his absence at the key meeting. Asked why Xi had not attended the forum, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin sidestepped the question, telling reporters in Beijing on Wednesday that Xi’s speech had been delivered.
