China Central Television reported the death of Jiang Zemin, a former President of China and former General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, at age 96. Media outlets stated that Jiang Zemin suffered from leukemia and multiple organ failure and passed away in Shanghai on November 30, 2022, at 12:13 am local time.
Xinhua News Agency released a CCP Central Committee statement confirming that Jiang Zemin was afflicted with leukemia and multiple organ failure. In response to the politician’s death, the websites of state media in China switched to black-and-white imagery as a sign of mourning.
Jiang Zemin was born on August 17, 1926, in Jiangsu province, eastern China. He trained as an electrical engineer in Shanghai and worked in the field of mechanical engineering for nearly three decades. In 1955, he briefly interned at the Moscow Automobile Plant, which helped him learn Russian.
Starting in 1980, he served as Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary of the State Import and Export Affairs Committee, later becoming the head of the Ministry of Electronics Industry. He held the role of Shanghai mayor from 1985 to 1989, after leading the electronics sector at the Ministry.
Jiang Zemin’s Political Rise
Jiang Zemin led the Chinese Communist Party as General Secretary from 1989 to 2002 and served as the President of the People’s Republic of China from 1993 to 2003. Under his leadership, China’s economy reached a high global standing, and the country joined the World Trade Organization. He introduced the “Three Representations” theory, which included the idea that private entrepreneurs and the educated middle class could participate in the CCP’s governance alongside workers and peasants.
During his tenure, political controls tightened while substantial economic reforms were pursued. These reforms helped raise living standards for many but also led to the erosion of the social safety net. Partial privatization occurred, large state-owned enterprises were restructured, and the traditional promise of guaranteed employment and pensions was weakened. These changes coincided with rising crime and corruption in some areas.
Connections with Russia
Jiang Zemin spoke several foreign languages, including English, Russian, Japanese, French, German, and Romanian. He engaged in cultural exchanges and diplomacy with Russia, visiting Moscow on multiple occasions. In 1997, he met Soviet President Boris Yeltsin to discuss a multipolar world and cooperative international order. He also visited Yasnaya Polyana, Leo Tolstoy’s estate, reflecting an interest in Russian literature.
In 2001, during meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Moscow State University associates, Russian culture and diplomacy featured prominently in discussions. Reports note a lively reception and a shared interest in cultural and scientific collaboration.
Putin remarked that Jiang Zemin spoke Russian well and enjoyed the opportunity to engage with Moscow’s elite. The two leaders explored the idea of mutual cultural influence contributing to prosperity for both nations.
In 2007, Jiang Zemin received the Pushkin Medal for his contributions to the study and spread of the Russian language, cultural preservation, and the exchange between nations. Beyond politics, he enjoyed singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments, and he even wrote poetry he presented to Fidel Castro.
Legacy and Public Perception
Observers note that Jiang Zemin left a lasting imprint on China’s economic trajectory and its approach to modernization. His supporters credit the era with expanding opportunities and modernizing the country, while critics point to the social costs of rapid reform and intensified political control. Among younger audiences, memories of his leadership are mixed, reflecting broader debates about China’s political and economic path during the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Namely, Jiang Zemin is sometimes remembered for his nickname among supporters and fans. Online communities in China have speculated about his legacy, with some fans expressing admiration for the economic growth achieved during his tenure and others noting how the country’s wealth and opportunities evolved after his era.
As for public engagement, some reminiscences tied to his era highlight cultural diplomacy, language education, and the exchange of ideas across borders, which influenced both China’s global standing and its internal modernization efforts.