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Xi says Ball is Life
(hexbear.net)
Gavin Newsom gifted Xi Jinping a custom Golden State Warriors jersey. Xi is printed on the back.
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in China. Xi is passionate about sports. They are in San Francisco for this meeting, it's a San Francisco NBA team jersey, the jersey is for the local NBA team. Gavin Newsom is the governor of California. To me, the gesture of the gift is meant to symbolize to Xi, "you are on our team". It is common for sports fans to wear team jerseys when they watch a sport, to support the team.
In the video, upon receiving the gift, Xi jokes "Would I be great if I wear this?" Gavin jokes that Xi would be the MVP (Most Valuable Player). It seems like a very thoughtful gift, in my opinion, and Xi looks genuinely happy to receive it. I think it's a great photo. The dudes are rocking.
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202109/15/WS614129b4a310e0e3a68218f9.html
I very much appreciate you explaining the cultural implications. I would not have picked up on that but it seems obvious when you lay it out.
Tbf it's hard to understand the foreign and backwards culture of California. Most Califonologists aren't even proficient in their language, let alone understand the cultural subtleties of a gift like a Golden State jersey