The persecution has led to a backlash, resulting in a loss of power, and those in high positions are merely playing supporting roles. (Illustration by People News)
[People News] On September 6, the second Xi Jinping Cultural Thought International Academic Seminar took place in Shenzhen, Guangdong, with approximately 130 participants from domestic research institutions, universities, and international experts and scholars studying Xi's cultural thought and Chinese civilization.
The opening ceremony featured a speech by Hong Dayong, Deputy Minister of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China. His remarks were filled with vague and grandiose official language, asserting that Xi's cultural thought represents a "theoretical summary of the practical experiences in cultural construction under the leadership of the Communist Party in the new era."
Other speakers included Lv Yansong, Editor-in-Chief of Xinhua News Agency, Hu Jingjun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and Minister of Propaganda, Wang Hengyin, Secretary of South China Normal University, and Niu Wangdao, former Chinese Ambassador to Argentina and Director of the Chinese Studies Center at the University of Buenos Aires.
In comparison to the first Xi Cultural Thought International Academic Seminar held in Guangzhou at the end of September 2025, the caliber of speakers at this opening ceremony has noticeably diminished. At the first seminar, the initial speaker was Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, followed by Deputy Minister Hong Dayong, President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua, President of Sun Yat-sen University Gao Song, and Tursunali Kuziyev, First Deputy Director of the Uzbekistan Cultural Heritage Agency, among others.
Why did Huang Kunming, who attended the first seminar, choose not to participate in the second? Is it due to a busy schedule or the inconvenience of traveling to Shenzhen?
According to official sources, on September 3, Huang Kunming met with Governor Meng Fanli in Guangzhou to discuss matters with Zhang Jinliang, Chairman of China Construction Bank, and his delegation. On September 5, the Asia-Pacific Media High-end Forum opened in Shenzhen. Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and Minister of the Publicity Department, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech, while Huang Kunming was also present and gave a speech.
Despite attending the Asia-Pacific Media High-end Forum in Shenzhen, Huang was unable to participate in the Xi Jinping Thought seminar held in the same city the following day. This absence is clearly not due to distance or being 'busy', but rather for other reasons.
Huang Kunming hails from Fujian and worked in his hometown of Longyan for 17 years, from 1982 to 1999, eventually rising to the position of mayor. During this period, he had some interactions with Xi Jinping, who had been working in Fujian for an extended time. In 1999, Huang was transferred to Zhejiang Province alongside Cai Qi from Sanming City. In November 2002, Xi became the Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party and quickly promoted Huang, allowing him to govern Huzhou and Jiaxing in succession.
Huang, who is skilled at interpreting Xi's thoughts, earned Xi's approval by constructing the 'Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall'. Subsequently, Huang Kunming served as the Minister of the Propaganda Department of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee. After Xi came to power in 2012, Huang was transferred to Beijing to serve as the Deputy Minister of the Publicity Department, eventually becoming the Minister. Huang Kunming's most notable trait is his understanding of Xi's thoughts and his ability to closely follow Xi Jinping, which is often referred to as 'loyalty', although he does not have any particularly distinguishing qualities himself.
In October 2022, during the 21st Central Committee's First Plenary Session of the Communist Party of China, Huang Kunming was re-elected as a member of the Central Political Bureau and subsequently succeeded Li Xi as the top leader of Guangdong Province. While in Guangdong, Huang consistently flattered Xi Jinping, and the International Academic Seminar on Xi Jinping's Cultural Thought was held there, which was linked to Huang Kunming's 'loyalty'.
However, this high-ranking official, who once enjoyed Xi's trust and had been a long-time follower, unexpectedly did not attend the seminar he was supposed to attend and failed to deliver a speech. This absence is likely connected to the CCP's high-level initiative for 'centralized and unified leadership', the diminishing of Xi's power, and the potential for Li Qiang or another individual to replace Xi in the future. It is also related to the recent downfall of various officials from the 'Fujian Gang' and Huang Kunming's ties to some of them.
Huang Kunming's unusual actions prompt the question: do they further indicate that Xi's power is weakening and that his resignation is a likely scenario? The current reality within the CCP's officialdom increasingly shows a lack of regard for 'Boss Xi'.
(First published by People News) △
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