People’s Daily Calls for Unity Centered on Xi
Emphasizes Unified and Centralized Leadership
Jiang Zemin’s 100th Birth Anniversary Ceremony on the 17th
President Xi to Deliver Speech
Marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of former President Jiang Zemin, China is emphasizing unity centered around President Xi Jinping and moving to consolidate his power. This is interpreted as an effort to strengthen the legitimacy of the current leadership system ahead of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee scheduled for October and the 21st National Party Congress to be held next year.
The People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of China, published on August 16 a commemorative article of about 6,400 characters, in the name of the Party History and Documentation Research Institute of the CPC Central Committee, assessing the achievements of the former president.
On the morning of the 1st, Chinese President Xi Jinping is giving a speech at the 105th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Communist Party of China held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. Photo by Yonhap News
The People’s Daily evaluated that when Jiang assumed power in 1989, he ushered in a new phase of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization despite difficult domestic and international circumstances. His major achievements, as cited by the article, include steering the country through the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and the response to severe floods in 1998, joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, and fostering scientific and technological self-reliance. The article also referred to the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics under Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, and Hu Jintao, and reiterated Xi Jinping’s previous remarks on this subject.
In particular, the article stressed that “the entire Party and the Central Committee must have a core” and that “upholding the authority and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee is the highest principle of Party leadership.” It went on to call for unity centered on the Party Central Committee with Xi as the core, and urged thorough implementation of Xi’s ideology.
The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) noted that, in the context of the atmosphere surrounding the 100th anniversary of Jiang’s birth, China has traditionally sought to foster Party cohesion through events honoring past generations of leaders. The paper drew attention to the release of relevant messages ahead of the upcoming Fifth Plenary Session.
On the occasion of the former president’s 100th birthday, China produced a 12-part documentary and commemorative stamps and coins. Last month, the former residence of Jiang Zemin in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, his hometown, was designated as a patriotism education demonstration site.
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On August 17, a commemorative ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of Jiang Zemin’s birth is being held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where President Xi is scheduled to attend and deliver a speech.
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