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China's apparent leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping appeared in public on Saturday (September 15) for the first time in two weeks, visiting a Beijing university in what appeared to be an effort to dispel rumours of serious illness and a troubled political succession.

State television CCTV said Vice President Xi had arrived at the China Agricultural University in the morning for activities to mark National Science Popularisation Day.

It showed a healthy-looking Xi, with a slight smile and wearing a black informal jacket over a white shirt, walking around the university.

Sources told Reuters that Xi hurt his back while swimming earlier this month and that he had been obeying doctors' orders to get bed rest and undergo physiotherapy.

CCTV reported Xi inspected exhibitions on growing drought-resistant corn and a talk on how to fight food adulteration, a perennial problem in the world's second-largest economy.

Xi had been out of the public eye for almost two weeks and had skipped meetings with foreign leaders and dignitaries, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.