Most visible diplomat leaves new footprints

President Xi Jinping, on his fifth tour of Australia, told an audience that he couldn't help but recall the first visit he made here 26 years ago.

Xi, now 61, visited five cities here during his service as deputy mayor of Xiamen on China's coast back in 1988.

The tour took place at a time when most Chinese cities were undeveloped, and Xi saw a striking gap between the two economies.