Jiang hailed for improving nation, lives

Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, former general secretary of the CPC, meet with delegates of the 16th National Congress in Beijing on Nov 15, 2002. XINHUA NEWS AGENCY

Liu Keyi, then secretary of the municipal Party committee of Hubei's city of Jingzhou, said at a critical moment as the peak of flooding approached, Jiang climbed on an embankment and directed the rescue mission, motivating workers with his actions. "History definitely will take note of his great achievements," he said.

Wang Yumei, a villager from Tailai county, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, recalled that Jiang's personal involvement lifted people's spirits.

"The flood destroyed my home. At the hardest moment, Jiang came to visit us, the victims of the floods, and shook hands with me. This kind of warmth will stay in my heart throughout my life. I just can't forget that," Wang said.

Jiang's diligence and professionalism as an engineer and his popularity as a grassroots manager, before he led the Party and country decades later, were testified to by many of his colleagues.

In 1954, the country was in need of a large number of technical and management officials for the construction of the First Automotive Works in Changchun, Jilin province. Jiang was assigned to the plant.

A girl at a Beijing kindergarten kisses Jiang Zemin after receiving a polio immunization tablet from him on Dec 5, 1993. XINHUA NEWS AGENCY

Mao Lyuping, a colleague of Jiang at the time and a leading engineer at the factory, said, "Although Comrade Jiang Zemin has left us, his diligence in study and his perseverance in researching and conquering technological difficulties are always worth learning from."

In 1966, Jiang worked as director and acting Party secretary of the Wuhan Heat-Power Machinery Institute, where he later became the Party secretary and organized work for the design of atomic power generation equipment.

Li Yuzhen, a 78-year-old who knew Jiang at the institute, said, "Comrade Jiang did not have any air of bureaucracy, and he got along well with all the staff and workers of the institute. He also often asked us to have a firm political stand and master excellent working skills and knowledge."

Jiang's lifelong dedication to the nation and the people has impressed and motivated many youngsters from different generations.

Jiang Zemin delivers a report at the 14th National Congress in Beijing on Dec 12, 1992. XINHUA NEWS AGENCY 

Zhang Ziwen, a PhD student at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, recalled Jiang's active role in patriotic events and movements against Japanese aggression in the 1940s, when the late leader was a student at the university.

"During his study at the university… he adopted Marxism, chose the path for his whole life, and established his life's ideal of striving for the nation's liberation and people's happiness," Zhang said.

A memorial service for the late Chinese leader will start at 10 am on Tuesday in Beijing. People across the country will take part in a three-minute silent tribute, while those in vehicles will be encouraged to honk their horns and air defense sirens will be sounded for three minutes.

The People's Bank of China, China's central bank, announced on Sunday that trading in the interbank bond, money, foreign exchange, bill and gold markets will be temporarily suspended for three minutes for the tribute.

Xinhua contributed to this story.