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Jiang Zemin centenary commemorations in China

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2026-08-17 08:31 UTC → 2026-08-17 10:04 UTC · added ~~removed~~

China has conducted official commemorations to mark the centenary of former President Jiang Zemin’s birth. The program included the broadcast of a 12-part CCTV documentary titled ‘Jiang Zemin’, which reviewed his political career, his leadership in Shanghai, and his contributions to the electronics industry, poverty alleviation, and special economic zones. During a major commemorative event at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, President Xi Jinping delivered a 40-minute speech emphasizing the necessity of combining economic growth with firm Communist Party leadership. The ceremony was attended by all seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee, as well as retired senior officials including Wen Jiabao, Wang Qishan, and Premier Li Qiang. Notably, former leader Hu Jintao was absent from the gathering. In his remarks, Xi praised Jiang for maintaining stability, specifically highlighting his role during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and his leadership regarding the returns of Hong Kong and Macau. Xi’s speech reinforced the principle that reform and opening-up are inseparable from party control, while calling for an ‘indomitable fighting spirit’ to address national challenges—including economic growth, technological autonomy, and geopolitical ~~tensions—and urging heightened vigilance against future dangers.~~ tensions. Analysts suggest the high-profile commemoration serves to reinforce internal party unity and signal Xi’s commitment to a state-driven economic and military agenda as he prepares for upcoming leadership transitions. These events, which included a special set of stamps issued by China Post, follow the recent death of former Premier Zhu Rongji, a key economic reformer who worked alongside Jiang.

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