China | Dress to impress

Why foreign dignitaries wear red when meeting Xi Jinping

Does a little red look help improve relations? 

Honduran President Xiomara Castro inspects Chinese honour guards in Beijing, China
The colour of money, she hopesImage: Reuters

Xiomara Castro, the president of Honduras, had laid the groundwork for a successful visit to Beijing this month. In March her country ditched ties with Taiwan in favour of China. Honduras is also in the process of joining the Shanghai-based New Development Bank, a World Bank knock-off co-founded by China. But perhaps Ms Castro felt something extra was needed. When she met her counterpart, Xi Jinping, she wore a red trouser suit and shirt with a flowing red neck tie (pictured).

This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Dress to impress”

From the June 24th 2023 edition

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