On March 13, 2025, a day after his rare absence from the closing session of the National People’s Congress, Zhao Leji, member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and Chairman of the National People’s Congress, appeared and met with reporters from the two sessions.
According to a report by Xinhua News Agency on the evening of March 12, on that afternoon, Zhao Leji met with the heads of major central news units responsible for reporting on the Third Session of the 14th National People’s Congress and delivered a speech at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Officials from the CCP Central Propaganda Department and journalists from multiple national media outlets attended the meeting.
The day before, on March 11, Zhao unexpectedly missed the closing session of the National People’s Congress, which he was supposed to preside over. The meeting was chaired by his deputy Li Hongzhong instead. Li Hongzhong stated that Zhao Leji was absent due to “respiratory tract infection.” This marked the first time in nearly twenty years that a member of the CCP’s top leadership had not attended such an important occasion.
Li Hongzhong’s statement broke the CCP’s usual practice of keeping the health conditions of high-level leaders confidential.
Before missing the closing session of the NPC, mainland state media reported that Zhao Leji did not attend the closing session of the CPPCC held on March 10, nor did he participate in the third meeting of the chairpersons of the NPC. The official reason for his absence was not explained.
Zhao Leji served as the Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CCP for five years. According to official media reports, he had attended all public meetings arranged by Xi Jinping.
An opinion article by Radio France Internationale said that the Chinese Communist Party almost never discloses the health statuses of high-level leaders or discusses their ages, making it difficult for analysts to track their political movements.
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The aftermath of Zhao Leji’s absence from the recent high-profile events has sparked curiosity and speculation about the typically secretive nature of the Chinese leadership’s health disclosures and internal workings. His unexpected illness has led to rare public statements breaking the norms of confidentiality surrounding the health of top officials.
Analysts and observers are intrigued by the unfolding situation, as the absence of such a prominent figure like Zhao Leji from critical political gatherings has raised questions about the transparency and openness of the Chinese political system. The unprecedented nature of his non-attendance at these essential sessions has created a stir in political circles and media outlets, prompting discussions on the significance of this event.
The revelation that Zhao Leji had missed multiple key meetings prior to the closing session of the National People’s Congress has added another layer of complexity to the situation. The lack of official explanations and the departure from the usual protocol of keeping leadership health issues under wraps have heightened interest in understanding the inner workings of the Chinese Communist Party.
As discussions continue to unfold about Zhao Leji’s health condition and the implications of his absence on the political landscape, observers are closely monitoring any further developments that may shed light on the dynamics within the top echelons of the CCP. The rare insights into the health challenges faced by high-ranking officials are providing a glimpse into a typically opaque and enigmatic political environment.