April 23 marks World Reading Day. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s favorite hobby is, in fact, reading. Xi is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. Edited excerpts of Xi’s speeches on this topic since 2013 follow:

 

Excerpts from Xi's answers to a joint interview by the press of the BRICS countries on March 19, 2013

Excerpts from Xi's answers in an exclusive interview with the Rossiya TV on February 7, 2014

Excerpts from Xi's answers in an exclusive interview with the Rossiya TV on February 7, 2014

Excerpts from Xi's speech at the Second Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on January 11, 2018

Excerpts from Xi's speech at the celebration assembly of the 80th anniversary of the Central Party School and the opening ceremony of its 2013 spring semester on March 1, 2013

Excerpts from Xi's speech at the celebration assembly of the 80th anniversary of the Central Party School and the opening ceremony of its 2013 spring semester on March 1, 2013

Excerpts from Xi's speech at the celebration assembly of the 80th anniversary of the Central Party School and the opening ceremony of its 2013 spring semester on March 1, 2013

Sources: Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (I&III), Beijing Review, and Chinawriter.com.cn