The former Chinese president Jiang Zemin, who led his country out of isolation after the crushing of pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square and supported economic reforms that led to a decade of explosive growth, has died aged 96.
Jiang died from leukaemia and multiple organ failure in Shanghai at 12.13pm local time, the official Xinhua news agency said.
A surprise choice to lead a divided Communist party after the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown, Jiang saw China through a revival of market-oriented reforms, the return of Hong Kong from British rule in 1997 and Beijing’s entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001.
The letter quoted all the groups as condoling with the whole party, the entire military, and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups over the passing of “our beloved Comrade Jiang Zemin,” who died of leukaemia and multiple organ failure after all medical treatments had failed.
The letter said Mr Jiang was an outstanding leader who enjoyed high prestige and was acknowledged by the whole party, the entire military, and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups.
It described him as a great Marxist, a great proletarian revolutionary, a statesman, a military strategist, a diplomat, a long-tested communist fighter, and an outstanding leader of the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
