The universal sign for “I’m OK”: shaking hands with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. China’s elusive Xi Jinping, who is slated to be made president next month, was photographed engaging in a firm handshake with Panetta. Xi’s mysterious disappearance had fueled rumors—bad back, heart attack, assassination attempt—that something was amiss in Chinese politics, as he missed several high-profile meetings.
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