Top Chinese officials led by President Xi Jinping gathered in Beijing on Monday to commemorate the centenary of late leader Jiang Zemin, praising his role in guiding the nation’s economic rise while urging the ruling Communist Party to brace for major future tests and potential dangers.
What was expected to be a routine historical observance turned into a prominent display of political continuity and party solidarity. President Xi Jinping presided over a grand ceremony in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of former state leader Jiang Zemin, delivering a 40-minute speech that highlighted Jiang’s contributions to the party and the country.
A large portrait of Jiang was displayed above the rostrum—an honor traditionally reserved for deceased former top leaders like Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. All seven members of the Standing Committee of the Politburo attended the event, alongside a long list of retired state leaders, in a visible show of alignment within the party leadership as it prepares for next year’s major political reshuffle.
Commemorating Jiang’s Legacy Amid Current Economic and Geopolitical Strains
Jiang, who died in 2022 at the age of 96, led China through a pivotal era of rapid economic growth following the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown. During his tenure as Communist Party general secretary from 1989 to 2002 and as president from 1993 to 2003, his administration pushed through major structural transformations. These included shuttering unprofitable state-owned enterprises, dismantling the old housing system to foster a commercial property market, weathering the late-1990s Asian financial crisis, and securing China’s accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001.
The commemoration arrives alongside the passing of Jiang’s long-time co-partner in governance, former Premier Zhu Rongji, who died on August 12 at the age of 98. Analysts note that the departure of both leaders from living history marks a definitive chapter for the break-neck market reforms of the 1990s and early 2000s, which emphasized private entrepreneurship and wealth creation—contrasting with President Xi’s state-driven economic policies focused on technological autonomy and strategic industries.
Xi added that with an indomitable fighting spirit and superb skill in struggle,
the party must proactively meet the major tests posed by high winds and rushing waters, or even by raging storms.
The remarks underscore the current leadership’s navigation of trade frictions with the United States and Europe, demographic decline, and slower domestic economic growth.
Attendance Details and Notable Absences at the Beijing Gathering
Gatherings of elite retired and current officials in Beijing are frequently monitored by observers for signals regarding the political pecking order. Former Premier Wen Jiabao, who served from 2003 to 2013, alongside former Vice-Presidents Wang Qishan and Zeng Qinghong, were present at the Great Hall of the People, according to SCMP. However, former President Hu Jintao, Jiang’s immediate successor, was not immediately seen on state media footage of the event.
The event was moderated by Premier Li Qiang and attended by members of the Jiang family alongside individuals who worked closely with the late leader. The proceedings unfolded a year ahead of the 21st Party Congress scheduled for next autumn, where a new leadership line will take shape.
A 12-Part Documentary and Online Fandom Ahead of Centenary Coins
Leading up to the centenary, state broadcaster CCTV aired a 12-part prime-time documentary series chronicling Jiang’s life, career, and rise through the party, produced jointly by the Communist Party’s Central Publicity Department, the Institute of Party History and Literature, and CCTV. The broadcasts traced his early life, his education in Moscow in the 1950s, his work at Changchun’s First Automobile Works, and his tenure as mayor and party chief of Shanghai.
The media push has also fueled an unconventional online subculture among younger netizens who fondly refer to Jiang as “the Elder,” praising his background as an automobile factory manager and his penchant for reciting Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in English. China’s central bank announced plans to issue a set of commemorative coins bearing Jiang’s image later in the month to mark the centenary.
Following the centennial gathering, Beijing prepares for the funeral of former Premier Zhu Rongji, scheduled for Tuesday, closing a significant week of historical reflection on the leaders who defined China’s late-20th-century economic opening.
