Jiang Zemin

Jiang Zemin (17 August 1926 – 30 November 2022) was a Chinese politician who served as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the fourth paramount leader of China 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. 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.

Born in Yangzhou, Jiangsu, Jiang grew up during the years of Japanese occupation. After studying electrical engineering at the National Central University, he transferred to the National Chiao Tung University, joining the CCP while he was in college, and graduating in 1947. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, he received training at the Stalin Automobile Works in Moscow in the 1950s, and later returned to Shanghai in 1962 to serve in various institutes before being sent between 1970 and 1972 to Romania as part of an expert team to establish machinery manufacturing plants in the country. After 1979, he was appointed as the vice chair of two commissions by vice premier Gu Mu to oversee the newly established special economic zones (SEZs). He became the vice minister of the newly established Ministry of Electronics Industry and a member of the CCP Central Committee in 1982. Jiang was appointed as the mayor of Shanghai in 1985, and was later promoted to its Communist Party secretary, as well as a member of the CCP Politburo, in 1987.

Jiang came to power unexpectedly as a compromise candidate following the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, when he replaced Zhao Ziyang as CCP general secretary after Zhao was ousted for his support for the student movement. Jiang also assumed the chairmanship of the Central Military Commission from Deng Xiaoping. As the involvement of the Eight Elders in Chinese politics steadily declined, Jiang consolidated his hold on power to become the "paramount leader" and "core leader" in 1989. Urged by Deng Xiaoping's southern tour in 1992, Jiang officially introduced the term socialist market economy in his speech during the 14th CCP National Congress held later that year, which accelerated reform and opening up. In the economy, Jiang's administration oversaw the breaking of the iron rice bowl, started several key infrastructure projects and privatized many state-owned enterprises. Jiang prohibited the military engaging in business, proposed the revitalize the country through science and education policy, and started various projects including Project 211, and Project 985 to improve education. In 1999, Jiang started a crack down on Falun Gong. In foreign policy, Jiang oversaw closer relations with Russia, with a friendship treaty signed in 2001, as well as the founding of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Relations with the United States were marked by tensions, due to the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1996, the US bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade in 1999 and the 2001 Hainan island incident.

Notable works: Selected Works Of Jiang Zemin, Science in China, Energy Development Trends and Major Energy Conservation Measures, Reflections on Energy Issues in China Awards: Order of the Golden Eagle, Grand Cross of the Order of Good Hope, Order of State of Republic of Turkey, Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class, Grand Cross of the Order of Tahiti Nui, Pushkin Medal, Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer, Order of the Liberator, Order of José Martí, Order of the Crown of Brunei Education: Yangzhou High School of Jiangsu Province, National Central University, Chiao Tung University, Yangzhou Dongguan Primary School

Source: Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiang_Zemin