Xi leads event marking Jiang Zemin’s birth centenary

IN OR OUT? Xi Jinping told the party to brace for major tests and potential dangers. Former president Hu Jintao was not seen in media footage of the event

Top Chinese officials led by President Xi Jinping (習近平) yesterday gathered in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of late leader Jiang Zemin (江澤民), who led China in a pivotal phase in its rise from a marginal economy to a global economic power.

Jiang, who died in 2022 at the age of 96, led the country through a decade of rapid economic growth after the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

His co-partner in governance, former premier Zhu Rongji (朱鎔基), died last week, with the funeral scheduled today.

A giant screen shows a news footage of a portrait of the late former Chinese president Jiang Zemin during an event commemorating his 100th birth anniversary in Beijing yesterday.

Photo: Reuters

The passing of the two leaders marks a definitive end to the reforms that both represented during the 1990s and early 2000s, with more emphasis on private entrepreneurship and wealth creation.

That stands in contrast to Xi, who has exerted greater central control and pressed a state-driven economic policy focused on technological autonomy and strategic industries.

In a 40-minute speech, Xi called on the Chinese Communist Party to carry forward Jiang’s legacy, presenting the current leadership as the continuation of his political and ideological project.

That message was also carried in state media coverage in the past few days.

Under Jiang and Zhu, China pushed through painful changes: shuttering unprofitable state firms, dismantling the old housing system in favor of a commercial property market, weathering the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s and joining the WTO in 2001.

Xi now faces challenges of his own as he seeks to weather trade frictions with the US and Europe, tensions over Taiwan, slower economic growth and demographic decline.

“On the new journey ahead, we must heighten our sense of vigilance against potential dangers,” Xi said.

“With an indomitable fighting spirit and superb skill in struggle,” we must “proactively meet the major tests posed by high winds and rushing waters, or even by raging storms,” he added.

Events involving Xi are closely monitored by China watchers for clues to the political pecking order, and for indications of the health and continued standing of the country’s retired elite.

Former Chinese president Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), Jiang’s immediate successor, now 83, was not immediately seen in state media footage of the event, which was attended by current and retired officials.

Hu’s premier, Wen Jiabao (溫家寶), as well as former vice president Wang Qishan (王岐山), Xi’s one-time anti-corruption chief, were seen at the event, suggesting that they remain in favor with the leadership.

A number of officials once associated with Wang have come under corruption probes in recent years.