Historical Figure
Jiang Zemin
d. 2022
Leader of China from 1989 to 2002
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Biography
Jiang Zemin was a Chinese politician who served as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from 1989 to 2002, as the chairman of the Central Military Commission from 1989 to 2004, and as the president of China from 1993 to 2003. Jiang was the fourth paramount leader of China from 1989 to 2002. He was the core leader of the third generation of Chinese leadership, one of four core leaders alongside Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, and Xi Jinping.
In Their Own Words (5)
Jiang: No. There's no such implication whatsoever. There's still compliance with Hong Kong's Basic Law, compliance with the election laws...
Jiang: No, you can't just... You people in the media should take note: feeling the wind doesn't mean it's going to rain. When you receive news like this, you also have to make an independent judgment. Do you understand what I'm saying? Suppose these things are totally fabricated, and you repeat what he [Patten] says, equally, you'd also be responsible.
Jiang: Do you understand? You people. Don't even think about trying to stir the pot by creating a big scandal, saying that I'd already made the imperial decree and criticising me.
Jiang: I'm angry! Let me say this, what you're doing is inappropriate.
Jiang: I'm sorry to say this, but today I'm speaking to you as an elder. I am not a journalist, but I've seen too much. I need to give you people some real-life experience.
Timeline
The story of Jiang Zemin, told in moments.
Trained at the Stalin Automobile Works in Moscow. An electrical engineer by training. Fluent in Russian, passable English, and fond of quoting poetry and singing Elvis Presley songs in public.
Became mayor of Shanghai. Managed the city's rapid modernization. When student protests erupted in 1986, he defused them by meeting students directly and reciting the Gettysburg Address from memory. In English.
Named General Secretary of the Communist Party after the Tiananmen Square crackdown. Deng Xiaoping chose him partly because he'd handled Shanghai's protests without bloodshed.
Presided over Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty after 156 years of British colonial rule. The midnight ceremony was attended by Prince Charles and Tony Blair.
Stepped down as General Secretary, handing power to Hu Jintao. Kept the military chairmanship until 2004. His decade of rule saw China join the WTO, win the 2008 Olympics bid, and triple its GDP.
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