China prepares to mark Jiang Zemin centenary with full commemorative honours

Beijing is gearing up to commemorate the centenary of former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin's birth with a series of official events, culminating in a grand ceremony led by current President Xi Jinping. State broadcaster CCTV is airing a 12-episode documentary titled "Jiang Zemin," with prime time broadcasts on CCTV-1 beginning on Tuesday. The party is also set to host a symposium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday, with Xi expected to deliver a commemorative speech.

The documentary series kicks off by acknowledging Xi's tribute to Jiang at his funeral in December 2022, calling him "an outstanding leader" and listing his titles as a "great Marxist" and "long-tested communist fighter." The episodes then trace Jiang's life from his childhood and political beginnings to his leadership roles in the early 1980s, including the formation of special economic zones and Shanghai's development while serving as mayor and party chief.

Jiang's centenary honors join those of other former Chinese leaders, such as Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi, Zhu De, Deng Xiaoping, and Chen Yun. In addition to the documentary and symposium, the party plans smaller gatherings to discuss Jiang's life and political philosophy, along with the issuance of commemorative stamps. These events echo past commemorations, such as the 2004 symposium for Deng Xiaoping's birth centenary, where Xi Jiintao delivered a lengthy speech and Xi Jinping paid tribute to Jiang for his leadership during China's economic reforms and WTO accession.