Jiang Zemin, a Chinese political leader who held several positions, including the position of President of the People's Republic of China, was known for his success in leading China and bringing it out of its isolation to become a major economic power in the world.

Born

Jiang Zemin was born on August 17, 1926 in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province (east China), and in 1946 he joined the Chinese Communist Party 3 years before Mao Zedong took power.

Study and formation

Jiang Zemin received his undergraduate studies at Shanghai Jiaotong University, majoring in electrical machinery, and graduated in 1947.

In the fifties and sixties of the last century, he held a number of positions in the industrial sector in Shanghai, before heading to the Russian capital, Moscow, in 1955 and practicing training assignments for one year as an electrical engineer in a car factory.

According to an official biography, Jiang Zemin was known for his love of classical music and playing the piano, and he did not hesitate to dance the waltz or sing in front of the cameras during his trips abroad.

The announcement of the death of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Chinese TV channels (Reuters)

political track

In 1946 he joined the Communist Party of China, and after his return from the Soviet Union, held responsible positions in Wuhan and Beijing, becoming Minister of Electronic Industry in 1983.

After that, Jiang returned to Shanghai, where he became mayor and secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee in 1985.

He was a member of the CPC Central Committees, and a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committees.

In 1989, former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping officially appointed him as his successor, and he was elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, 3 weeks after the suppression of the famous student demonstrations in Tiananmen.

Some accounts say that Xiaoping's appointment came after he impressed him with his ingenuity in putting a peaceful end to demonstrations in his home city, Shanghai, without bloodshed, as happened in Beijing.

Assuming the presidency of the People's Republic of China in 1993, Jiang Zemin led the transformation of China, the world's most populous country, into a global power.

During his reign, Hong Kong returned to China on July 1, 1997, and in October of the same year, he made his first official visit to the United States, before he received US President Bill Clinton in the Chinese capital, Beijing, the following year.

In 2001, Beijing won the bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games, and in the same year it joined the World Trade Organization.

In 2002, Jiang Zemin gave up the position of General Secretary of the Communist Party, as well as the Presidency of the Republic in 2003, and then resigned as Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China in September 2004.

During his reign, the Chinese witnessed an unprecedented rise in the standard of living, and under his leadership, China's opening-up accelerated and economic reforms deepened.

Chinese citizens line up to offer condolences on the death of their former president, Jiang Zemin (Reuters)

his death

Jiang Zemin died on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at the age of 96, due to leukemia and failure in many organs, according to official Chinese sources.

His death was officially announced by the Chinese authorities, who expressed "deep sadness" and said that his death came after the failure of all medical treatments.

"Comrade Jiang Zemin was an exceptional leader (...) a great Marxist, a great proletarian revolutionary and statesman, a long-time military strategist, diplomat and communist fighter, and an exceptional leader of the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics," the Chinese authorities added.

Flags were flown at party and government buildings, mourning his death.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the late Chinese president as a "steadfast advocate for international engagement," and said his reign coincided with "significant economic progress."