Communist Party's Zhao Leji Absent From Key Session Due to Illness

Zhao Leji, the third-highest leader of China's Communist Party, was absent from a major parliamentary session due to a respiratory infection. This marked a rare occurrence as top leaders rarely miss high-profile events due to health reasons. Zhao's absence gained attention and speculation globally.

Zhao Leji, ranked as the third-highest leader in China's Communist Party, was notably absent from a key parliamentary session on Tuesday. His stand-in, Li Hongzhong, cited a respiratory infection as the reason for Zhao's absence, marking a rare break from the party's tradition of maintaining secrecy around leaders' health issues.

His absence from the Great Hall of the People was the first such occurrence in nearly two decades when a member of the Politburo Standing Committee did not attend a significant event. Zhao, a close associate of President Xi Jinping, has previously been consistent in attending public meetings and events.

Experts and analysts have described Zhao's missing the event as unusual, given the tightly controlled nature of such gatherings. The incident underlines the delicate nature of Chinese political health narratives, prompting interest in the broader implications for the country's leadership dynamics.

(With inputs from agencies.)