Jiang hailed for ensuring party survival

Sirens wailed across China and President Xi Jinping praised the late leader Jiang Zemin for ensuring the Communist Party's survival from "political storms" in an hour-long address at his state funeral at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday.

Jiang, who died aged 96 in a Shanghai hospital on November 30, was cremated on Monday with Xi and other state leaders escorting his hearse to Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery. Crowds stood silently as Jiang's glass-topped coffin was driven slowly to the cemetery amid high security.

The funeral service began at 10am yesterday as a few thousand attendees including senior officials - all wearing white chrysanthemums on their lapels, a traditional Chinese symbol for mourning - stood in attention as Xi spoke.

A giant portrait of Jiang was placed at the center of the podium, surrounded with wreaths from his family members and state leaders.

Two black banners hung in the Great Hall that read "Under the leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, we will carry on the will of Comrade Jiang Zemin and push forward the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era!" and "Comrade Jiang Zemin, beloved by the whole party, the army and all people of the nation, is forever immortalized."

Air raid sirens sounded during the three-minute silence as the ceremony began.

Jiang's widow, Wang Yeping, appeared at the service on a wheelchair accompanied by a caretaker.

Xi praised Jiang for implementing the basic strategy of a law-based governance and achieved the smooth handover of Hong Kong and Macau.

Xi said Jiang pushed the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to reach the 1992 consensus and rigorously fought against secession and Taiwan independence.

"He has always seen the world's general development trend with a broad global perspective, put forward a series of diplomatic and international strategic ideas, actively promoted the democratization of international relations and respected the diversity of the world," Xi said.

He lauded the former leader for ensuring the party's survival - referring to the June Fourth 1989 unrest in Tiananmen - and reforming the CCP by injecting new vitality.

"In the late 1980s and early 1990s, serious political storms occurred at home and abroad and world socialism experienced severe complications. Some Western countries imposed so-called 'sanctions' on China," Xi told an audience that included Jiang's direct successor Hu Jintao.

Jiang stepped forward to strengthen the party's ties with the people, engage in "diplomatic struggles" and upheld China's dignity, security and stability, he added.

Xi described Jiang's death as an incalculable loss and said the country must turn grief into strength and use his legacy to write a new party chapter.

"Do not believe in evil, fear neither ghosts nor pressure, and do your best to overcome all kinds of difficulties and challenges on the way forward."

Flags were flown at half-staff at all embassies abroad and public entertainment activities were suspended for the day.

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com