People from across China continue to mourn former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, who died on Wednesday in Shanghai at the age of 96.
The mourners recalled the former Chinese leader’s words and deeds and how the policies and measures implemented during his time in office improved their lives. The mourners also said they will turn their grief into action and contribute to the efforts to build a modern socialist country in all respects and advance national rejuvenation on all fronts.
“At the initial stage of developing Pudong, we were so motivated by Jiang’s encouragement and so inspired by his great foresight,” recalled Zhu Xiaoming, a former manager of a company based in Pudong New Area in Shanghai.
Jiang placed great emphasis on the development of the private sector, said Nan Cunhui, chairman of CHINT Group, a Chinese smart energy solution provider.
“The private businesses were the witnesses, practitioners and beneficiaries of the establishment of a socialist market economy,” Nan said, adding that they will persist with these endeavors and break new ground in the real economy.
Wei Jizhong, 86, former secretary-general of the Chinese Olympic Committee, remembers the night of July 13, 2001, when Jiang and the entire country celebrated China’s successful bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
“The process of the bidding had motivated all Chinese people to strive for the better,” said Wei. “Now, the Chinese nation has demonstrated more self-reliance and more confidence with an ever-stronger country.”
In Anhui province, Wu Lifang, a research fellow with the Hefei Institute of Physical Science under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, recalled her meeting with Jiang during the former leader’s visit in 1998.
“Jiang, who attached great importance to the role of science and technology in boosting social productivity, encouraged us to contribute to China’s food security with continuous scientific research efforts,” Wu said.
Yu Guogang, one of the founders of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, said Jiang’s support for the establishment and development of the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets led to significant progress in reform of the financial system.
The fast growth of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange over the last 30-plus years is the epitome of the booming future of China’s stock market, said Yu.
The news of Jiang’s passing saddened Liu Qiyun, a village Party chief in Guizhou province. In October 1996, Jiang visited the ethnic Miao community that had been relocated to Liu’s village from inhospitable mountainous areas.
“Comrade Jiang Zemin cared about the ethnic minority groups in the mountains and people who live in the impoverished areas,” Liu said. Before moving to the new village, the 23 Miao households lived at an altitude above 1,500 meters with no running water, electricity or proper roads.
“We will continue to advance the rural vitalization drive in a tribute to Comrade Jiang Zemin,” he said.
Lobsang, a former national lawmaker hailing from the Tibet autonomous region, met Jiang while attending the annual session of the National People’s Congress in 1998.The next year, Jiang put forward the idea of large-scale development of China’s western region.
The strategy opened new horizons for rapid development in Tibet. “Like Comrade Jiang Zemin envisioned, today’s Tibet enjoys social harmony and stability, and people here live and work in peace and contentment. We (will) miss him forever,” said Lobsang.
In grieving over the passing of Jiang, Chinese people expressed their determination to rally around the Communist Party of China Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and strive in unity to build a modern socialist country in all respects and advance national rejuvenation on all fronts.
In Hong Kong, residents placed flowers over the weekend outside the office building of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to pay their respects. On condolence websites set up by some residents, many people laid virtual flowers and left messages to express their condolences.
Tam Yiu-chung, a member of the NPC Standing Committee, said Jiang’s contribution to the country and his support for Hong Kong will always be remembered.
In Macao, hundreds of people came to grieve for Jiang at a mourning hall set up at the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region.
Jiang opened up new prospects of all-around reform and opening-up, improved people’s lives, realized the smooth transition and return of Hong Kong and Macao, and promoted the continuous development of the “one country, two systems” cause, said Chan Wai Chi, chairman of the Zhuhai-Macao Cross Border Industrial Zone Chamber of Commerce.
People in Taiwan also continued mourning for Jiang. Huang Chih-Hsien, a media worker, said that during his time in office, Jiang adhered to the policies of peaceful reunification and “one country, two systems “and resolutely contained the plots to seek “Taiwan independence”.
Facing the current complex and grave situation across the Taiwan Straits, both sides should work hard for closer communication to promote reunification and national rejuvenation, Huang said.
