Xi Jinping, the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, will embark on a state visit to the United Kingdom this week. Ahead of Xi’s trip, a mysterious Chinese production studio has released a polished propaganda video extolling the virtues of British and Chinese ties—a move that is fast becoming ritual.
In “Britain meets China,” Fuxing Road Studio (pronounced “foo-sing”) explores the China-UK relationship in education, the iconic London Taxi Company, and soccer. Published to Youtube on Oct. 16, the slickly cut five and half minute video features shots of children in China and Britain, and two Chinese students praising Xi Jinping for developing soccer, a “shared passion” with the UK. It bears all the hallmarks of China’s state propaganda apparatus, and appears to show some of the insecurities around China’s diplomacy with the West.
The video was released on Oct. 16, but began being heavily promoted in time for Xi’s visit to the UK from Oct. 20 to Oct. 23. The Chinese leader and his wife Peng Liyuan will stay at Buckingham Palace, the residence of British royalty, and will attend a state banquet hosted by reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II. Xi will also meet with in private with Jeremy Corbyn, the new Labour Party leader.
