Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin passes away at the age of 96

Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin passed away due to leukemia and multiple organ failure in Shanghai on Wednesday, 30 November, at the age of 96, as reported by CCTV+, a partner of TV BRICS.

The announcement was made by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the State Council of the PRC, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the Central Military Commissions of the CPC and the PRC.

The letter says they proclaim with profound grief to the whole Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups that Jiang Zemin died of leukemia and multiple organ failure after all medical treatments had failed.

The letter also says that Jiang Zemin was an outstanding leader enjoying high prestige acknowledged by the whole Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, a great Marxist, a great proletarian revolutionary, statesman, diplomat and an outstanding leader of the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. He was the core of the CPC's third generation of central collective leadership and the principal founder of the Theory of Three Represents.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences in an official telegram: “Please accept our deepest condolences on the passing of former President of the People's Republic of China and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Jiang Zemin. The name of this outstanding statesman is inextricably linked with an important period in the modern history of China, marked by great achievements in economic and social development, as well as the strengthening of international positions."

The head of state said that Jiang Zemin made an invaluable contribution to the development of Russian-Chinese relations. This was reported on the official website of the President of Russia. 

“The Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, which we signed with him in 2001, laid the foundation for a qualitative build-up of the entire range of bilateral ties,” he said.