Zhu Rongji’s death adds new dimension to China's high-profile remembrance of Jiang Zemin

Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over a major commemorative event in Beijing on Monday to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of former leader Jiang Zemin, whose tenure as head of the Communist Party and state saw China transform from a struggling economy into a global power. The gathering took place in the Great Hall of the People, where current and retired officials paid tribute to Jiang, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 96. The event coincided with the recent death of Jiang’s close ally, former Premier Zhu Rongji, adding further significance to the occasion. Jiang Zemin played a central role in steering China through a transformative period in the 1990s and early 2000s, implementing sweeping economic reforms that laid the groundwork for sustained growth. His administration oversaw the closure of inefficient state-owned enterprises, the restructuring of the housing sector, and China’s accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001. These measures helped integrate China into the global economy and fostered a wave of private enterprise and innovation. Zhu Rongji, who served as premier from 1998 to 2003, worked closely with Jiang to push these reforms, often facing resistance from entrenched interests within the bureaucracy. Zhu Rongji died on August 12 at the age of 97, just five days before Jiang’s birthday centenary. His funeral will take place on Tuesday, with national flags flying at half-mast at key government buildings, including in Hong Kong and Macau, as well as at Chinese embassies abroad. The deaths of both men signal the end of an era marked by rapid economic liberalization and structural adjustment, which reshaped China’s trajectory in the modern era. During the commemoration, Xi delivered a 40-minute speech emphasizing the need to continue Jiang’s legacy, portraying the current leadership as the natural extension of the policies initiated during Jiang’s time. He urged the Communist Party to maintain vigilance against emerging threats and to adopt a resilient approach to navigate future challenges, including trade disputes with Western nations, internal economic slowdowns, and demographic shifts. The event underscored the continuity of leadership strategies, linking past reforms to present-day priorities. The commemorative activities included a 12-part documentary series produced by China’s state broadcaster, CCTV, which ran from August 11 to 16. The series detailed Jiang’s political career and his contributions to the nation’s development, highlighting his role in managing domestic unrest and international crises such as the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the devastating floods of 1998. The timing of the series and the public event suggests a deliberate effort to reinforce the narrative of the Communist Party’s ability to guide China through turbulent times. Analysts noted that the renewed focus on Jiang’s legacy serves a dual purpose: celebrating past achievements while reinforcing the necessity of current leadership under Xi. The portrayal of Jiang and Zhu as resolute decision-makers aligns with contemporary messages about addressing complex challenges and driving progress. Their legacies are being framed as essential to understanding the evolution of China’s political and economic landscape. The event also drew attention to the status of retired leaders within the Communist Party. While former President Hu Jintao, Jiang’s immediate successor, did not appear in state media coverage of the event, other figures such as former Premier Wen Jiabao and ex-Vice President Wang Qishan were present. This suggested their continued influence and favor within the current leadership structure. However, several officials linked to Wang have faced corruption investigations in recent years, indicating shifting dynamics within the party hierarchy. Among younger generations, Jiang’s name has taken on a different resonance. On Chinese social media platforms, despite strict censorship rules, he is sometimes referred to as “the Elder,” a term reflecting nostalgia for a period of rapid economic expansion and improved living standards. Some citizens recall him as a figure who ushered in an era of optimism, even though his tenure was marked by controversial decisions, including the suppression of dissent following the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. His introduction of the internet to China in the 1990s, followed by the establishment of the Great Firewall, illustrates the complex legacy of his rule.