Premier breezes through journalists’ tame questions at close of NPC

Li Keqiang breezed through a tame and uneventful press conference, thanks largely to the absence of the uncomfortable questions often foisted on his predecessors.

Nine overseas media outlets, including one each from Hong Kong and Taiwan, were called upon to ask questions. But none touched on controversies such as domestic disturbances or ethnic minorities. That was especially surprising, coming just two weeks after five knife-wielding attackers - Xinjiang separatists, according to the government - killed 29 railway passengers in Kunming and injured 143 others.

Six other questions raised by state media journalists concerned the economy or other announced administration priorities.

No Japanese reporters were called upon, nor did anyone ask about Sino-Japanese relations, which are at a new low after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to the controversial Yasukuni war shrine in Tokyo and with a territorial dispute in the East China Sea that shows no sign of cooling.

In contrast, Li's predecessor Wen Jiabao faced a barrage of questions on self-immolation by Tibetans, the Dalai Lama's offer to hold talks with Chinese leaders and the then Chongqing vice-mayor and police chief Wang Lijun's attempted defection to the United States consulate in Chengdu . Wen's detailed answers made headlines around the world.

In his second appearance as premier in the international spotlight, Li showed his amiable side.