[1] A fluent English-speaker, Rui is known for his frequent appearances at international conferences and conducting interviews with business and political leaders,[2] sometimes in a controversial, nationalistic style.

On July 11, 2014, during the live broadcast of CCTV’s Economic News, Rui’s seat was conspicuously empty, though his microphone remained on the desk, sparking public speculation.

[9] The following day, media reports revealed that Rui had been taken into custody on the afternoon of July 11 by the Jilin Provincial People’s Procuratorate, along with Li Yong, deputy director of CCTV-2, and a producer.

[7] Apart from sporadic media reports speculating on his whereabouts, it is not clear what happened to Rui after 2014, until he was sentenced to six years in prison in 2016 for alleged bribery.

In the video, he acknowledged being confined for six and a half years, but refuted rumors about his involvement in an espionage case or sex scandals.

[14] At the 2010 G20 Seoul summit, Rui attracted controversy when U.S. President Barack Obama said he would give the final question at a press conference to South Korean media.

When no one in the South Korea media crew responded, Rui raised his hand and was called on by President Obama.

Following the exchange, Rui commented on Weibo, stating: “He seizes every opportunity to relentlessly promote American values, highlighting the good while rarely mentioning the bad.

Whether it’s carrying a backpack, drinking coffee, taking a shuttle bus, or flying economy class, he ensures that these moments are precisely captured, shared, and discussed.