BEIJING - China’s influential ex-President Jiang Zemin has resurfaced in the public eye, praising China’s new leader to Henry Kissinger in a move that appears to be a show of unity while the country faces mounting challenges including slowing growth and ethnic unrest.
Chinese media reported Tuesday that Jiang, 86, hosted a “familylike” meeting and banquet for the visiting former U.S. secretary of state in Shanghai on July 3, during which Jiang extolled the virtues of the new head of the Communist Party, Xi Jinping.
“Xi Jinping is an extremely capable and wise state leader,” Jiang was described as saying in an official announcement about the meeting issued by the Foreign Ministry on Monday.
Though the ministry did not explain why the announcement came three weeks after the meeting, such delays are not unusual for the government’s propaganda system.
“Although China currently has to overcome many difficulties, I am confident with the new leadership of China,” Jiang said.
Jiang’s appearance in the Chinese media is rare since he made a symbolic move in January to step out of the public view, though it remained unclear whether he would relinquish his behind-the-scenes influence in the leadership. When Xi’s predecessor Hu Jintao was appointed party leader a decade ago, his efforts to consolidate his power were blocked by Jiang’s retention of powerful chairmanship of the party commission that oversees the military.
Front Section, Pages 7 on 07/24/2013