CCTV FOLLIES 8.23 Empty pomp and promises

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CCTV puts great stock into the pomp and circumstance accorded to Xi, and Xi alone, during this meeting with the leaders of India, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa and Russia (in absentia) at the table.

It arguably serves to show the world that Xi is first among equals, or just plain first, with no close second, but it does not augur well for Modi, Lula and even Putin’s stand-in Lavrov, who are downgraded diplomatically and indirectly snubbed by the showering of so much special attention on Xi.

Xi’s spokeswoman Hua Chunying sits with the Chinese delegation. When Xi pulled a no-show later in the day, she posted inaccurately that Xi had given a speech at the BRICS forum when it was actually delivered by Commerce Minister Wang Wentao