A correspondent from the Telegraph tried to count how many times Jiang checked his watch, but he soon lost track:

Other journalists at the scene, or ones following along online, commented on the talk’s duration:

When Xi finally concluded his speech and returned to his seat flanked by Jiang and Hu—amid long-lasting applause, of course—Hu appeared to point to his watch to Xi. There was no comment from Jiang, at least not in front of the cameras.

📬 Sign up for the Daily Brief

Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning.