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Hu Jintao (centre), former President of China, is escorted by ushers from the closing ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party at the Great Hall of the People
Photo: - / dpa
The state media explained a much-noticed incident involving the former Chinese head of state and party leader Hu Jintao at the end of the party conference in Beijing with the 79-year-old being unwell.
The incident, in which Hu Jintao was led off the podium by two helpers, apparently against his will, from his seat next to State and Party leader Xi Jinping, had sparked much speculation.
The ushers literally pulled him out of his seat and urged him to leave the room.
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Hu Jintao insisted on attending the session even though he had just "taken time to recover," the official Xinhua news agency wrote, without mentioning a specific illness.
“When he did not feel well during the meeting, his staff took him to a room near the meeting to rest because of his health.
He's much better now."
The evening news also featured prominently images of Hu Jintao attending the session.
The statement now speaks against possible political backgrounds, which had promptly been speculated about.
The frail-looking ex-party leader, visibly irritated, reached for Xi Jinping's papers.
Hu Jintao is not necessarily one of the supporters of incumbent President Xi Jinping.
The former President handed over the post of Secretary-General to his successor in 2012 after two terms in office.
Hu Jintao stands for the old "collective" leadership model with representatives from different factions and age and term limits, which the 69-year-old Xi Jinping wants to override with his third term.
He belongs to the Communist Youth League camp in the party, which was weakened by Xi Jinping.
ok/dpa