Jiang's 'glorious life' celebrated

President Xi Jinping lauded on Monday the "indelible contributions" of late leader Jiang Zemin and called for efforts to continue advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, as he addressed a grand gathering in Beijing to mark the centenary of the late Chinese leader's birth.

"Comrade Jiang Zemin lived a glorious life, a life of struggle," Xi said, noting that Jiang had made indelible contributions to safeguarding the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, breaking new ground in reform and opening-up in all respects, achieving overall moderate prosperity in people's lives, and successfully advancing socialism with Chinese characteristics into the 21st century.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called on the whole Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to learn from Jiang's exemplary qualities and continuously advance the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Jiang was the core of the third generation of the Party's central collective leadership and the principal founder of the Theory of Three Represents, which stipulated that the CPC should always represent the development trends of China's advanced productive forces, the orientation of China's advanced culture and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people.

He was born in August 1926 in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province. In 1989, he was elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. He passed away in 2022 at the age of 96.

During a revolutionary career spanning more than 70 years, Jiang fully demonstrated his great talent, bold vision, key role and exceptional art of political leadership as a Marxist statesman, Xi said.

Xi spoke highly of Jiang's steadfast commitment to communist ideals and his devotion to the Party and the people, calling on Party members to draw strength from his firm political convictions.

On the new journey, Xi stressed, it is imperative to uphold the overall leadership of the Party and the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee, unswervingly strengthen full and rigorous Party self-governance, and ensure that the Party remains the strong leadership core in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Jiang always stood with the people and cared for their well-being, Xi said, calling for efforts to learn from the late leader's dedication to and profound love for the people.

Xi noted the importance of always bearing in mind that "this country is its people; the people are the country".

Xi called for adhering to a people-centered development philosophy, maintaining close ties with the people and making solid steps in promoting the all-around development of the people and common prosperity for all.

Highlighting Jiang's innovative spirit, Xi said the late leader had continuously advanced innovations in theory, institutions, science and technology, culture and other fields in response to the evolving needs of the times and practice.

Xi called for further deepening reform and opening-up, modernizing China's system and capacity for governance and unleashing creativity across the Party and society to generate sustained momentum for economic and social development.

Jiang's far-sightedness and strategic thinking were highlighted by Xi. With an international perspective and a vision for the future, Jiang advanced the cause of the Party and the country with a slew of major decisions and measures, Xi said.

Jiang made arrangements with foresight for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and put forward a series of thoughts on foreign affairs and international strategies to advance the development of a multipolar world and economic globalization in the right direction.

Looking ahead, it is essential to fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, accelerate efforts to create a new development pattern and make solid headway in promoting high-quality development, Xi said, calling for further efforts to build a community with a shared future for humanity and add more positive energy to world peace and development.

Xi also highlighted Jiang's extraordinary courage and vision. Jiang made resolute decisions at key historical junctures and critical moments, and responded calmly to risks and challenges, securing the steady advancement of China's reform and opening-up as well as socialist modernization, Xi said.

In particular, Jiang led China to successfully withstand the impact of the Asian financial crisis and secure complete victory in the battle against the severe floods in 1998, Xi said.

"On the new journey, we should stand ready to withstand high winds, choppy waters and even dangerous storms, resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and continue to write a new chapter in the miracles of fast economic growth and long-term social stability," Xi said.

About 6,000 people were present at Monday's commemoration, which was presided over by Li Qiang and attended by Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi — all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee — as well as Vice-President Han Zheng.

Also on Monday, a symposium on the life and thought of Jiang Zemin opened in Beijing and will run through Wednesday. Cai Qi attended and addressed the opening ceremony.

mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn