Former Chinese leader late Jiang Zemin will be given a state funeral, say reports

Front pages of the majority of Chinese newspapers were blacked out on Thursday and flags were lowered to half-staff in remembrance of former president Jiang Zemin’s passing. Well-wishers left flowers outside his childhood home.

According to images published on Chinese social media, police blocked off streets in Shanghai, where Jiang died. However, hundreds of people still gathered to catch a glimpse of his body in the van believed to be transporting his last remains.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has established a funeral committee, which would be in charge of the ensuing weeks of public mourning and the final formal send-off. The committee is led by President Xi Jinping. The date was not specified, although it is anticipated that it would take place in Beijing. The flags would be flown at half-staff until a “memorial meeting”, according to the committee.

The committee further added “According to Chinese precedent, foreign governments, political parties, will not be asked to send delegations or representatives to China to participate in the mourning event.”

Jiang’s death was described as an “incalculable loss” by the party in a statement published by China’s official Xinhua News Agency, which said he died in Shanghai at 12:13 p.m. local time of leukemia-related complications.

FAQs:

1. What did Jiang Zemin do for China?
   China saw significant economic development with the continuation of market reforms under Jiang’s leadership, witnessed the repatriation of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom in 1997 and Macau from Portugal in 1999, and strengthened its connections with the rest of the globe.
2. When did Jiang Zemin die?
   Jiang Zemin died on November 30, at the age of 96, in his hometown of Shanghai from leukemia and multiple organ failure.