China's National People's Congress: Eye rolls and tame questions

China's National People's Congress is in full swing with dozens of choreographed press conferences on the sidelines. From screening questions to blocking posts, Communist Party officials use these events to manage the message but even in this highly-controlled environment things can spin out of control.

If you get to see a press conference at this Congress, it's likely that reporters selected to ask a question have had it vetted by a government official who will coyly then say something like, "Oh, let's hope you get to ask that".

However, it doesn't seem hard to find a Chinese journalist who, for example, on the one opportunity each year to face Foreign Minister Wang Yi doesn't want to know about Syria, North Korea, a potential trade war, the South China Sea and the like.

What they do want to know is…

People's Daily: "Thank you moderator, Foreign Minister, hello. Since the 18th Party Congress, China's diplomatic work has made unprecedented important achievements and has won unanimous praise from Chinese people. We know that 2018 was the first year after the 19th Party Congress. What have been the highlights of China's diplomacy this year? Can you tell us about it? Thank you."

Foreign Minister Wang Yi: "Since the 18th Party Congress, under the correct leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, we have indeed emerged on a road to great power diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style… "

source:www.bbc.com