Chinese President Xi Jinping and Hong Kong’s Carrie Lam met at a surprise meeting in Shanghai. The Chinese president expressed joy at meeting with Hong Kong’s chief executive even though the two are not known to be on good terms. Their differences, however, were buried as both leaders discussed ways to move their countries forward in the light of the recent protests in Hong Kong.
Both leaders had come to attend the 2019 China International Import Expo in Shanghai, the largest city of China located in the east of the Pacific and one of the largest ports in the world. Although President Jinping would be delivering a speech at the event, both leaders did not announce their willingness to be present at the occasion.
Xinhua, the Chinese state news agency, reported that Jinping had always called for peace in Hong Kong, demanding that those behind the uprising in the Asian financial hub be punished. According to the Chinese leader, this is the only way to protect the interests and welfare of the good people of Hong Kong.
As it is, violent demonstrations remain ongoing in Hong Kong, with several world leaders calling for immediate solutions to the crisis. The protest started in June, with experts saying it all started with a controversial China extradition bill. The unrelenting demonstrations have crippled economic activities in the former British colony, causing recession and harm to the region’s tourism sector.
The Hong Kong police said 325 people were arrested recently at the peak of the demonstrations, which have now entered its fifth month. Public transportation has been disrupted, and major roads shut down. Xinhua’s headquarters in Hong Kong was also firebombed as a mark of disaffection towards China.
There was a widespread rumor that Beijing was planning to oust Lam due to her seeming incapability to rein in the protests. But top Chinese officials said this is not true and that Beijing wants a peaceful resolution to the crises. Officials said China respects Lam for the way she is handling the crises and would offer any support towards the quick resolution of the crises.
In furtherance of this position, Xinhua reported that “Xi voiced the central government’s high degree of trust in Lam and full acknowledgment of the work of her and her governance team.” The news media said Xi Jinping commended Lam for working hard to “stabilize the situation and improve the social atmosphere” currently pervading Hong Kong.
China also encouraged Lam to fish out the perpetrators of the violence and to dialogue with all sectors of the colony towards making life more meaningful to the citizenry.
