BEIJING — Former Chinese President Hu Jintao was led out of the country’s Communist Party Congress Saturday in a moment of unexpected drama during an otherwise highly choreographed event.

Hu, 79, was sitting beside President Xi Jinping in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People when he was approached by a man in a suit and surgical mask who spoke to him and appeared to pull his right arm.

With Xi looking on, the man then placed both hands under Hu’s armpits and attempted to lift him out of his seat. Xi appeared to talk to his predecessor before the man got between them and tried to lift Hu again.

Another man in a mask arrived, and Hu eventually stood up, after it appeared as if he was trying to get back to his seat. He exchanged a few words with Xi and placed a hand on the shoulder of Premier Li Keqiang, the nation’s number two official, before he was escorted away.

Just before the incident, Hu had been speaking with Li Zhanshu, the chairman of the standing committee of the National People’s Congress, the top leadership team in China.

Li had his chair turned toward the former president to talk. As Hu was led away by the men, Li attempted to stand up but was pulled back down by Wang Huning, another party leader.

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