China prepares to mark Jiang Zemin centenary with full commemorative honours

Beijing has started airing a heavyweight documentary on former Chinese president Jiang Zemin as part of commemoration events marking the centenary of his birth, expected to culminate on Monday in a grand ceremony presided over by President Xi Jinping.In the lead-up to the anniversary, state broadcaster CCTV launched a 12-episode documentary titled Jiang Zemin, with the network’s flagship CCTV-1 airing two episodes nightly at prime time from Tuesday.The series was jointly produced by the ruling Communist Party’s Central Publicity Department and its Institute of Party History and Literature, as well as CCTV.The party is also expected to hold a grand symposium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday to mark the centenary of the former leader’s birth, according to past political norms.Xi, who is also the party’s top leader, will preside at the grand gathering and is expected to give a commemorative speech.A scene from the heavyweight 12-part documentary on former Chinese president Jiang Zemin that is screening on state broadcaster CCTV as part of a series of commemoration events marking the centenary of his birth. Photo: CCTVThe apex of the nation’s leadership, including the top echelons of the Politburo, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, the State Council, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and the Central Military Commission, is expected to attend.