President Xi Jinping led commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the birth of former state leader Jiang Zemin at a grand ceremony in Beijing, in a show of political continuity and party unity ahead of next year’s major power reshuffle.
In a 40-minute speech, Xi addressed thousands of officials and delegates from various sectors at the ceremony, held in the Great Hall of the People, delivering a speech that highlighted Jiang’s contribution to the party and the country.
A large portrait of Jiang was displayed above the rostrum – a practice reserved for deceased former top leaders like Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping – and all seven members of the Standing Committee of the Politburo, as well as a long list of retired state leaders, were present, in a show of solidarity within the party.
They included former premier Wen Jiabao, who served between 2003 to 2013, former vice-presidents Wang Qishan and Zeng Qinghong. Former president Hu Jintao was absent.
The ceremony was also attended by members of the Jiang family as well as people who worked around him, according to Premier Li Qiang, who moderated the event.
President Xi Jinping presides over a grand ceremony in Beijing on Monday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of former state leader Jiang Zemin. Photo: CCTV
The commemorative event was hosted a year before the 21st Party Congress, scheduled for next autumn, when a new leadership line will be formed and Xi is set to renew another five-year term as the party’s leader.