Monday marked Chongyang Festival in China, which is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar every year to honor and respect elders. Throughout his political career, Xi Jinping has always championed the cause of elderly care.

One such example took place in November 2017. During a group photograph with attendees of an award ceremony for national ethical role models, Xi went out of his way to invite two seniors to sit with him in the front row.

The touching moment happened when Xi approached the crowd standing ready for the picture and he spotted the two gray-haired men standing with other attendees behind the front row.

Xi invited them to join him. The two representatives, scientist Huang Xuhua, then 93, and veteran grassroots official Huang Dafa, then 82, declined at first, but Xi insisted, rearranging the chairs himself.

"Please do come. We can make space for you," Xi said. Touched by his move, the crowd burst into sustained applause.