Global leaders offer deepest condolences, heap praise on Jiang
LEADERS of many countries and international organizations have expressed their deep condolences by phone, letter and other means to President Xi Jinping over the passing of former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin.
Underscoring Jiang’s dedication to the economic and social development of contemporary China and the country’s rise in international standing, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Jiang was an old friend of Russia, who had made great contributions to elevating the Russia-China relationship to a strategic partnership of coordination.
He will always remember Jiang as a statesman with lofty prestige and tremendous personal charisma, Putin said, expressing his sincere sympathy to Jiang’s family and all Chinese people.
Jiang had made important contributions to the socialist cause with Chinese characteristics, said Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president.
The former Chinese president, a close friend to the LPRP and the Lao people, had played a significant role in guiding the development of Laos-China relations, he added.
Jiang was an outstanding statesman and communist leader, as well as a close friend of the Cuban Revolution, according to Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and Cuban president, adding that Cuba expressed its deep condolences to the Communist Party of China, the Chinese government and people.
Jiang made considerable contributions to improving the living standards of the Chinese people and led the drive to grow China into a stable and prosperous economy, said Brunei’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, adding that Brunei highly appreciates Jiang’s efforts in deepening the long-standing ties between the two countries.
Jiang led China on a period of rapid growth and development through sustained economic reforms, Singaporean President Halimah Yacob noted, adding that their thoughts are with the people of China during this moment of grief.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said Jiang was dedicated to promoting China’s development and prosperity, and enhancing its international influence.
The former Chinese leader had made great contributions to strengthening friendship between Kazakhstan and China, and would be remembered forever by people of the two countries, he added.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Jiang had promoted China’s reform and opening-up, made contributions to China’s development and played an important role in promoting the development of Japan-China relations.