A new flavour

摘要

In a first for a Chinese president, Xi Jinping made a New Year's Day address to the nation on state television. The content of his speech, mainly good wishes and appeals for people to work together, broke no new ground. But the format, reminiscent of an American president in the Oval Office, hinted at a desire to find new ways for China's leaders to interact with the people. Mr Xi had already shown such inclinations a few days earlier when he showed up unannounced at a modest Beijing eatery. He queued for a simple lunch of pork buns, fried liver and vegetables, then carried his own tray to sit with astonished diners, the tab coming to 21 yuan ($3.50), which he paid himself.