Xi to speak at Jiang Zemin centenary event
Thestandard · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, will attend and deliver an address at a grand meeting in Beijing on Monday, August 17, to commemorate the centenary of late Chinese leader Jiang Zemin's birth. The event will be held in the morning at the Great Hall of the People and will be broadcast live, with simultaneous relays on the websites of Chinese media organizations. In the lead-up to the anniversary, China Central Television aired a 12-episode documentary series on Jiang, with its latest episode focusing on his role in ensuring Hong Kong's smooth return to China. China is also marking the centenary with commemorative stamps and four coins to be issued by state authorities
Key Points
- Xi is scheduled to attend and speak at the commemorative meeting on Monday morning, August 17, at Beijing's Great Hall of the People
- Chinese media organizations will carry the event live, with the meeting broadcast and relayed simultaneously on their websites
- A 12-episode China Central Television documentary was recently aired, and its latest episode examines Jiang's role in Hong Kong's return
- The documentary says Jiang rejected outside pressure during talks over Hong Kong and said he would not "sell out" the city
- China will also issue centenary memorabilia, including commemorative stamps and four coins: one ordinary coin, two gold coins and one silver coin
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the official commemoration places renewed emphasis on Beijing's account of the 1997 handover and Jiang's role in shaping the transition. The documentary's focus on Hong Kong, together with the references to Tung Chee-hwa and "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong," shows how the anniversary is being tied to the city's political narrative and identity within China