China vice president surfaces after 13 days

BEIJING // The Chinese vice president, Xi Jinping, has made his first public communication in nearly two weeks, state media said yesterday, amid speculation over the whereabouts of Beijing's leader-in-waiting.

Mr Xi has not been seen in public for 13 days. State media said he had "expressed condolences on the death of old party comrade Huang Rong", who died on September 6.