Jiang’s remains flown to Beijing
THE remains of Comrade Jiang Zemin were transferred to Beijing from Shanghai aboard a special flight yesterday.
Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders, including Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Han Zheng, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, and Wang Qishan, received Jiang’s remains at Xijiao Airport in Beijing and extended deep condolences to Jiang’s relatives.
Cai Qi, some staff members of the office of Comrade Jiang Zemin’s Funeral Committee, and Jiang’s relatives escorted his remains from Shanghai to Beijing.
The national flag flew at half mast at Xijiao Airport. Adding to the solemn atmosphere were black banners with white characters that read “Eternal glory to Comrade Jiang Zemin!” and “Comrade Jiang Zemin always lives in our hearts.”
Xi, his wife Peng Liyuan, and others, wearing black armbands and with white flowers pinned to their chests, stood solemnly on the tarmac. The special flight touched down at 3:55pm. Twelve honor guards escorted and carried the casket to disembark from the plane.
Xi and others bowed three times before
Jiang’s remains and watched the casket being carried onto a hearse.
At noon, a farewell ceremony was held at Huadong Hospital in Shanghai. Staff members of the office of Comrade Jiang Zemin’s Funeral Committee, officials in Shanghai, Jiang’s relatives and friends, and medical staff paid their respects. As the hearse made its trip from the hospital to Hongqiao Airport, Shanghai residents lined the streets to pay tribute to Jiang.
A memorial meeting for Jiang will be held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on December 6, according to an announcement yesterday.
The No. 2 Announcement issued by the committee says that in view of the exceptional contributions Jiang made to the development of the Party and the country, and the common wishes of the whole Party, the entire military and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, the following decisions have been made:
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s
Political Consultative Conference, and the Central Military Commission will hold a solemn memorial meeting for Comrade Jiang Zemin in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on December 6. The memorial meeting will start from 10am.
The memorial meeting will be broadcast live and all localities and departments should organize Party members, cadres and the masses to listen to or watch the live broadcast, it added.
On the day the memorial meeting is held, the national flag will be flown at half-mast across the country as well as at China’s embassies, consulates and other agencies stationed overseas. Public entertainment activities will be suspended on that day, the announcement said.
When the mourning session is held at the memorial meeting, people across the country will pay a three-minute silent tribute, horns will be honked for three minutes, and air defense sirens will be sounded for three minutes.
No ceremony for paying last respects to Jiang’s remains will be held.
Jiang died on Wednesday at age 96.