Xi Jinping showcases policy priorities on first trip to Shanghai since 2020, as Chinese leader promotes his agenda

The Chinese president’s itinerary included a futures exchange, technology fair and affordable housing project signalling some of the main items on his agenda

It was his first visit to the city, one of the country’s key economic hubs, since last year’s prolonged Covid lockdown brought it grinding to a halt

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Xi Jinping watches a human-like robot go through its paces at the Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Exhibition. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 10:06pm, 29 Nov 2023Updated: 10:34pm, 29 Nov 2023

Chinese President Xi Jinping is making his first visit to Shanghai since 2020, state media reported on Wednesday, on a trip that highlights some key aspects of his policy agenda in areas such as finance, technology and welfare.

On Monday, the Post was the first to report that Xi would be visiting the city this week. Sources familiar with the matter said he had postponed his visit, after originally planning to make it his first stop on his way back from the United States, where he met Joe Biden and attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco.

State broadcaster CCTV reported that the Chinese leader was in the city on Tuesday and Wednesday, visiting the Shanghai Futures Exchange, the ongoing Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Exhibition and an affordable accomodation project.

Footage from the innovation exhibition showed Xi examining a display of semiconductor integrated circuits – a technology that lies at the heart of China’s tech competition with the US – and watching a walking, human-shaped robot in the artificial intelligence section.

He also visited a project providing affordable rental accomodation for migrant workers in the city’s Minhang district and gave a speech to the tenants outside.

The Chinse leader also visited a project providing affordable accomodation to migrant workers. Photo: Xinhua

It was Xi’s first visit to Shanghai since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic and follows last year’s prolonged, two-month lockdown that caused the city to virtually grind to a halt.