Xi Jinping gets a boost ahead of US visit

PageAdvertisement for books about Xi Jinping in the New York Times on September 7. Photo:Sina

A Chinese businessman has attracted attention after buying an ad in the New York Times to promote a book about President Xi Jinping ahead of his visit to the US.

The Global Times reported yesterday that Zhou Daping, chairman of CN Times Books, had purchased a full-page ad in the September 7 issue of the New York Times for $100,000. CN Times Books is the New York branch of Beijing MediaTime Books, a publishing and book distribution company.

“Warmly welcome President Xi Jinping to the United States,” the ad begins in Chinese. Along with a brief review of the books in both English and Chinese, the page features an image of the Great Wall and the Chinese flag.

According to Mr. Chu, the main purpose of this is to introduce new books about Mr. Xi to American readers. "Since President Xi will visit the US at the end of September, I want to seize the opportunity to promote our books as well as welcome him," said Mr. Chu.

He also dismissed speculation that the ad was part of a Chinese government propaganda campaign. Mr Zhou said he was doing it as a private citizen and had no connection to the government. "I would have ordered it regardless of whether President Xi visited the US or not," he said.

Although he claimed to have no connection to the Chinese government, according to Hong Kong news site EJ Insight, Zhou worked for the Beijing Municipal Party Committee's Propaganda Department from 1993 to 1999.

"Many mainstream US media outlets are currently ignoring China's achievements and criticizing China's economy, politics and society," Chu said, explaining why he decided to buy the page. "As one of the most influential newspapers in the US, the New York Times was chosen by us to promote our books, thereby helping readers better understand China," Beijing News quoted Chu as saying on September 11.

According to VNE