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SCMP Reporters

As part of SCMP’s commitment to providing comprehensive coverage of former Chinese president Jiang Zemin’s death and legacy, this story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing.
China paid tribute to former president Jiang Zemin today with a funeral at the Great Hall of the People.
The service for Jiang, who died of multiple organ failure in Shanghai last week aged 96, was the biggest event of its kind since the funeral for paramount leader Deng Xiaoping in 1997.




As it happened: Xi Jinping pays tribute to late Chinese president Jiang Zemin - ‘a great Marxist and leader’

Chinese president Jiang Zemin died last week aged 96. Photo: AFP

News

China

Politics


Xi credits Jiang with leading the country through difficult times, upholding the rule of socialism and persisting in opening up and economic reform
Former president Hu Jintao and former premier Zhu Rongji did not appear among the attendees



Xi credits Jiang with leading the country through difficult times, upholding the rule of socialism and persisting in opening up and economic reform.


Jiang Zemin

Live

Jiang was the Communist Party’s general secretary from 1989 to 2002.
During his tenure at the top, China entered the World Trade Organization, won the right to host the Summer Olympics, and regained sovereignty of Hong Kong and Macau.
It was a time of meteoric economic growth and political elevation of entrepreneurs, as well as rampant corruption, heavy pollution and a crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual sect.



Jiang’s legacy

Follow the funeral with our live stream.




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There is a heavy security presence around the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where Jiang’s funeral will be held.
With an hour to go before the event, no crowds are on the street near the hall.
However, authorities arranged for large groups of people to gather by the road on Monday to bid farewell to Jiang’s body in west Beijing in an area sealed off to general traffic.




Tight security

Jiang’s funeral is being held at a sensitive time in China, coming in the wake of rare public protests across the country against Covid-19 restrictions.
In signs of defiance not seen in decades, some protesters have also called for democracy, rule by law and freedom of speech.
Observers are watching for any signs of public tributes to Jiang that might deviate from the official line.
People have taken to the streets in the past to both pay tribute to late leaders and air their grievances against incumbent governments.


Lingering tension

According to official memos seen by the South China Morning Post, Beijing asked all district offices in the country’s cities and government departments to organise residents and staff to watch the proceedings.
District officials were reminded to lower flags today.
And sports facilities and gardens will be closed as all public entertainment activities are suspended for the day.


Watching on

Media outlets and official accounts have started posting about Jiang on social media.
Weibo has disabled comments and sharing for these posts, with the exception of several posts from the Communist Youth League, where users expressed their condolences.


Commenting disabled

At Deng’s funeral in 1997, Jiang gave a 50-minute speech to a crowd of 10,000 people in the Great Hall of the People to remember his predecessor, who hand-picked him to lead China after the bloody Tiananmen crackdown in 1989.
He read from a script and took off his glasses several times to wipe away tears.



Emotional precedent

All securities trading on the mainland will be suspended for three minutes during the memorial service, as will trading in bonds, foreign exchange and gold, according to regulatory authorities.



Trading pause

Xi Jinping leads the Politburo members in bowing in tribute to Jiang.
All members of the Communist Party’s top decision-making body are wearing masks.
Sirens echo throughout the city.
Visibly emotional, Jiang’s widow, Wang Yeping, sits on a wheelchair and is comforted by a carer.
The presidium is decorated with a giant picture of Jiang and wreaths sent by family and party leaders.






Service under way

Xi describes Jiang as a prestigious leader, a great Marxist, diplomat, and a Communist warrior.
Xi says Jiang poured out his life for the country and the country made great achievements in the 13 years of his leadership, gaining the respect of his countrymen and the international community.


Leader and Marxist

People’s Daily has run a lengthy editorial to commemorate Jiang.
It urges the party to rally around Xi to carry on the mission of national rejuvenation.
It says Jiang led the country through “unprecedented challenges” and pressure in the late 1980s and early 90s – an indirect reference to the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown.
It also highlights Jiang’s support of party leadership after his retirement and his support for Xi’s anti-corruption crackdown. The commentary – titled “Remember the achievements, continue with the mission, and unite and strive” – also calls for the country to rally around Xi’s leadership.


‘Remember the achievements’

Although foreign diplomats are not allowed to join the memorial service, Xi specifically mentions foreign embassies.
He also says the Hong Kong and Macau governments and Chinese diaspora are mourning Jiang.







Diplomats and diaspora

Retired party leaders including Wen Jiabao and Zeng Qinghong are present. Zeng appears to be in tears.
Jiang’s right hand man, former premier Zhu Rongji, however, is absent.
Zhu has not appeared at several previous important occasions due to his poor health.


Former leaders

Two black banners hang in the Great Hall of the People. They read:
“Under the leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, we will inherit the will of Comrade Jiang Zemin and push forward the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era!”
“Comrade Jiang Zemin, who is sincerely loved by the whole party, the army and the people of all nationalities, will live forever!”



Black banners

Xi mentions the political turmoil in the late 80s and early 90s, a euphemism for the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown.
Xi praises Jiang for unswervingly upholding the rule of socialism while persisting in opening up and economic reform.
Jiang tightened ideological control at the time to lead the country through rough waters, he says, and laid a solid foundation for the development of the country during his tenure.


Rough waters

Xi praises Jiang for clarifying the relationship between socialism, maintaining stability and economic development during his tenure.
He says Jiang had a vision to achieve a prosperous country and mentions that he led the country to join the World Trade Organization.
Xi also praises Jiang for the smooth handover of Hong Kong and Macau and his efforts to resist attempts to separate Taiwan from the mainland.


Socialism and stability

Xi praises Jiang for modernising the army and his “strategic decision” to order the army and armed police to stop engaging in commercial activity.


Modern army

Xi also praises Jiang for developing party theories, especially the “three represents”, which “creatively” answers the question of how to build the Communist Party.
One of the highlights of the three represents is that it allows private entrepreneurs to become party members.



Three represents

Xi also praises Jiang for helping the country through the Asian financial crisis.
He also says Jiang willingly stepped down as party secretary general in 2002, and as chairman of the Central Military Commission in 2004.
Jiang actively supported the party’s Central Committee after his retirement, including its anti-graft campaign, Xi says.


‘Willingly stepped down’

Former president Hu Jintao appears not to be at the service but he accompanied Xi to pay his last respects to Jiang before his cremation yesterday.
Standing with Xi are serving and former Politburo Standing Committee members.
To Xi’s left are Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, Ding Xuexiang and Wang Qishan.
To his right are Li Zhanshu, Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Li Xi, Li Ruihuan, Wen Jiabao, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Li Lanqing, Zeng Qinghong, Wu Guanzheng, Li Changchun, He Guoqiang, Liu Yunshan and Zhang Gaoli.
Wu Yi, a prominent former vice-premier who served as deputy minister of foreign economic relations and trade under Jiang, is present at the ceremony, too.


Notable absence

Xi calls for the country and Communist Party to “inherit the will of Jiang and to write a new chapter of socialism with Chinese characteristics”.
Xi then calls for party cadres to rally around his leadership and party leadership, saying the party’s leadership is the hope of the country.



New chapter

Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua appears emotional at the service.



Moment of sorrow

Xi reiterates that focusing on the public interest should be a priority for party’s new chapter.
He also highlights the importance of achieving “common prosperity”– a catchphrase Xi has often used in recent years.


‘Common prosperity’

Xi calls on the party, military and the people to rally around the Central Committee under his leadership to achieve great rejuvenation of the Chinese people.
Xi leads the assembly to bow three times in tribute to Jiang before the conclusion of the ceremony.



Rallying call

Xi outlines his policy objectives and priorities in the second half of his memorial speech.
He highlights how these objectives are in line with Jiang’s vision and a continuation of the socialist legacy of his predecessors.
“Comrade Jiang Zemin bade farewell to us. His reputation, achievement and charisma will always be part of history and engraved in people’s hearts, generation after generation,” Xi says.
