习近平：在江泽民同志追悼大会上的悼词

新华社北京12月6日电

在江泽民同志追悼大会上的悼词

（2022年12月6日）

习近平

同志们，朋友们：

今天，我们在首都人民大会堂隆重举行追悼大会，极其沉痛地悼念敬爱的江泽民同志。

此时此刻，大江南北，长城内外，全国各地的党政机关、企事业单位、乡村、学校、部队、街道社区的广大人民群众，我国驻外使领馆及其他驻外机构人员，香港特别行政区同胞、澳门特别行政区同胞和台湾同胞以及海外侨胞，也都同我们一道，深切缅怀江泽民同志的丰功伟绩和崇高风范，寄托我们的哀思。

全党全军全国各族人民，为失去了江泽民同志这样一位伟大人物感到无限悲痛，世界各国人民、各国领导人和各方面国际友人也表示深切哀悼。

江泽民同志是全党全军全国各族人民公认的享有崇高威望的卓越领导人，伟大的马克思主义者，伟大的无产阶级革命家、政治家、军事家、外交家，久经考验的共产主义战士，中国特色社会主义伟大事业的杰出领导者，党的第三代中央领导集体的核心，“三个代表”重要思想的主要创立者。

我们爱戴江泽民同志，怀念江泽民同志，是因为他把毕生心血和精力都献给了中国人民，为争取民族独立、人民解放和实现国家富强、人民幸福鞠躬尽瘁、奋斗终身。特别是党的十三届四中全会以后13年党和国家取得的巨大成就，同江泽民同志的雄才大略、关键作用、高超政治领导艺术是分不开的。江泽民同志为党和人民建立了不朽功勋，赢得了全党全军全国各族人民衷心爱戴和国际社会广泛赞誉！

同志们、朋友们！

江泽民同志从青少年时代起就立志追求真理，积极投身人民革命运动的洪流。他是江苏省扬州市人，1926年8月出生在爱国知识分子家庭，从小接受爱国主义思想和民主革命思想的启蒙。1943年冬，他参加了中共地下党组织领导的爱国进步学生运动，1946年4月加入中国共产党，从此把毕生精力献给了党和人民。

新中国成立后，江泽民同志先后在企业、科研单位、国家部委工作，在每个岗位上他都尽职尽责、艰苦努力，把火热年华献给了社会主义革命和建设事业，在改革开放方面做了大量开拓性工作。在党的十二大上，他当选为中央委员。

1985年后，江泽民同志任上海市市长，上海市委副书记、书记。他领导制定上海经济发展规划和城市建设规划，提出在20世纪末把上海建设成为开放型、多功能、产业结构合理、科学技术先进，具有高度文明的社会主义现代化城市的发展方针，强调把浦东建设成为国际化、枢纽化、现代化的世界一流新市区，积极推进为民办实事制度化，为开创上海改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新局面作出了突出贡献。在党的十三届一中全会上，他当选为中央政治局委员。1989年春夏之交我国发生严重政治风波，江泽民同志坚决拥护和执行党中央关于旗帜鲜明反对动乱、捍卫社会主义国家政权、维护人民根本利益的正确决策，紧紧依靠广大党员、干部、群众，有力维护上海稳定。

同志们、朋友们！

1989年6月，江泽民同志在党的十三届四中全会上当选为中央政治局常委、中央委员会总书记，同年11月党的十三届五中全会决定他为中共中央军事委员会主席，形成以江泽民同志为核心的党的第三代中央领导集体。

江泽民同志担任党和军队主要领导职务之际，我国正面临外有压力、内有困难的严重时刻，可谓临危受命。江泽民同志坚定表示：“为了党和人民的事业，我一定鞠躬尽瘁、死而后已。”

20世纪80年代末90年代初，国际国内发生严重政治风波，世界社会主义出现严重曲折，一些西方国家对中国进行所谓“制裁”，我国社会主义事业发展面临空前巨大的困难和压力。在这个决定党和国家前途命运的重大历史关头，江泽民同志带领党的中央领导集体，紧紧依靠全党全军全国各族人民，毫不动摇坚持经济建设这个中心，旗帜鲜明坚持四项基本原则，坚持改革开放，坚决开展治理整顿，全面加强意识形态工作，深入开展党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争，加强党同人民群众的联系，积极展开外交斗争，坚决维护国家的独立、尊严、安全、稳定，捍卫了中国特色社会主义伟大事业。经过艰苦努力，党和人民成功稳住了改革发展大局，为我国发展打下了坚实基础。

从党的十三届四中全会到党的十六大的13年中，国际形势风云变幻，我国改革开放和社会主义现代化建设进程波澜壮阔。在国际国内十分复杂的形势下，江泽民同志带领党的中央领导集体，高举马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想、邓小平理论伟大旗帜，坚持党的基本路线不动摇，紧紧依靠全党全军全国各族人民，坚定不移坚持和发展中国特色社会主义。他提出抓住机遇、深化改革、扩大开放、促进发展、保持稳定的基本方针，全面阐述了正确处理社会主义现代化建设中的十二大关系，深化了我们对社会主义现代化建设规律的认识，强调抓住机遇而不可丧失机遇、开拓进取而不可因循守旧，领导我们制定和实施了促进改革发展稳定的一系列方针政策和重大战略。他领导我们确定了党在社会主义初级阶段的基本纲领，为我们坚持和发展中国特色社会主义事业提供了有力指导。他领导我们确立了社会主义市场经济体制的改革目标和基本框架，确立了社会主义初级阶段公有制为主体、多种所有制经济共同发展的基本经济制度和按劳分配为主体、多种分配方式并存的分配制度，锐意推进经济体制改革、政治体制改革、文化体制改革和其他各方面改革。他对全面建设小康社会、实现第三步战略目标进行了前瞻性的战略思考，强调要在本世纪头20年集中力量全面建设惠及十几亿人口的更高水平的小康社会。他强调，财大才能气粗，落后就要挨打，必须把发展作为党执政兴国的第一要务，聚精会神搞建设、一心一意谋发展。他提出坚持“引进来”和“走出去”相结合，以开放促改革促发展，领导我们加入世界贸易组织，形成对外开放新格局。他领导我们发展社会主义民主政治，实施依法治国基本方略，发展社会主义先进文化，实现香港、澳门顺利回归，推动两岸双方达成体现一个中国原则的“九二共识”，有力开展反分裂、反“台独”重大斗争。他始终以宽广的世界眼光洞察世界形势发展总趋势，提出一系列外交和国际战略思想，积极推动世界走向多极化，推进国际关系民主化，尊重世界多样性，推动成立上海合作组织，领导我们打开外交工作崭新局面。他强调治国必先治党、治党务必从严，强调讲学习、讲政治、讲正气，提出推进党的建设新的伟大工程，强调要解决好提高领导水平和执政水平、增强拒腐防变和抵御风险的能力两大历史性课题，坚定不移推进党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争，始终保持共产党人的蓬勃朝气、昂扬锐气、浩然正气，始终保持党的先进性和纯洁性。他领导我们正确处理改革发展稳定关系，推动社会主义物质文明、政治文明、精神文明建设和党的建设取得举世瞩目的新进展，成功把中国特色社会主义推向21世纪。

江泽民同志深刻洞察世界新军事变革的发展趋势，主持制定了新时期军事战略方针，强调要推进中国特色军事变革，坚定不移走中国特色的精兵之路，加强人民军队革命化、现代化、正规化建设。他强调：“我这些年集中精力抓的问题，一言以蔽之，就是我军能否打得赢、不变质。”他强调，要毫不动摇坚持党对人民军队的绝对领导，部队要做到政治合格、军事过硬、作风优良、纪律严明、保障有力，永葆人民军队性质、本色、作风，把军事斗争准备的基点放到打赢信息化条件下的局部战争上来，加快国防和武器装备发展。他作出军队、武警部队和政法机关必须彻底停止一切经商活动的战略性决策。在江泽民同志亲自领导和大力推动下，我国国防和军队现代化建设取得了巨大成就。

江泽民同志坚持解放思想、实事求是、与时俱进，尊重实践，尊重群众，围绕建设中国特色社会主义这个主题提出了一系列新思想新观点新论断，为坚持和发展党的基本理论、基本路线、基本纲领、基本经验作出了杰出贡献。特别是他集中全党智慧创立了“三个代表”重要思想，进一步回答了什么是社会主义、怎样建设社会主义的问题，创造性回答了建设什么样的党、怎样建设党的问题，深化了我们对新的时代条件下推进中国特色社会主义事业、加强党的建设的规律的认识，以新的思想、观点、论断，继承、丰富、发展了马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想、邓小平理论。

党的十三届四中全会以后13年中，江泽民同志领导我们从容应对一系列关系我国主权和安全的国际突发事件，战胜在政治、经济领域和自然界出现的困难和风险，特别是领导我们成功抵御亚洲金融危机冲击、战胜1998年特大洪涝灾害等，保证了改革开放和社会主义现代化建设的航船始终沿着正确方向破浪前进。

江泽民同志高度重视事关党和人民事业的重大战略问题。在筹备党的十六大期间，他主动提出不再担任中央领导职务，并从中央委员会退下来，以利于促进党和国家高层领导新老交替。党中央同意了江泽民同志的请求。2004年，他又主动提出辞去他担任的党和国家中央军事委员会主席的职务，充分体现了他对党和国家事业发展的深谋远虑。

从领导岗位上退下来以后，江泽民同志坚决拥护和支持党中央工作，关心中国特色社会主义伟大事业，坚定支持党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争。2006年，江泽民同志亲自主持编辑和逐篇审定《江泽民文选》第一卷、第二卷、第三卷，为我们继续推进中国特色社会主义伟大事业和党的建设新的伟大工程提供了重要教材。

江泽民同志在长期革命实践中锤炼出来了鲜明的革命精神和革命风范。江泽民同志目光远大、审时度势，总是从中国和世界发展大势、从党和国家工作全局出发观察和思考问题，不断推进理论创新和其他各方面创新。江泽民同志信念坚定、处事果断，总是把党和人民放在心中最高的位置，始终不渝坚持共产党人的理想信念，在关键时刻具有作出果敢决策的非凡胆略和进行理论创新的巨大勇气。江泽民同志尊重实践、与时俱进，总是紧紧把握时代发展脉搏和契机，坚持从党和人民活生生的实践出发总结经验、寻找路子，脚踏实地而又开拓进取推进党和国家各项工作。江泽民同志尊重群众、关心群众，总是高度关注人民群众安危冷暖，依据最广大人民根本利益来检验和推动工作。江泽民同志的革命精神和革命风范永远铭刻在我们心中，永远教育和激励我们前进。

江泽民同志的逝世，对我党我军我国各族人民是不可估量的损失。党中央号召全党全军全国各族人民，化悲痛为力量，继承江泽民同志的遗志，以实际行动表达我们的悼念，在中国特色社会主义道路上不断谱写党和国家事业发展新篇章。

——马克思主义是我们立党立国、兴党兴国的根本指导思想。江泽民同志留给我们的最可宝贵的财富，就是“三个代表”重要思想。他表示：“我提出这个问题，是经过了长时期思考的。”“‘三个代表’的思想，不是凭空产生的，而是我们十三年来在理论和实践上不断探索和开拓的结果。”“三个代表”重要思想是党必须长期坚持的指导思想。新征程上，我们一定要坚持把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，坚持一切从实际出发，不断回答中国之问、世界之问、人民之问、时代之问，始终保持马克思主义的蓬勃生机和旺盛活力。

——中国共产党领导是党和人民事业风雨无阻向前进的根本保证。江泽民同志语重心长地说：“我作为一名老共产党员，真诚地希望全党同志特别是中央各位同志时时刻刻把党放在心中最高的位置，时时刻刻在各项工作中自觉坚持和维护党的领导，这是我们党和国家的希望所在。”新征程上，我们一定要保持“赶考”的清醒和坚定，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，弘扬伟大建党精神，不忘初心使命，勇于推进自我革命，确保党在新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的历史进程中始终成为坚强领导核心。

——中国特色社会主义道路是当代中国大踏步赶上时代、引领时代发展的康庄大道。2001年，江泽民同志在庆祝中国共产党成立80周年大会上强调，80年的实践启示我们，必须坚定不移走自己的路，这是总结我们党的历史得出的最基本的经验。新征程上，我们一定要坚持中国特色社会主义道路，坚持党的基本理论、基本路线、基本方略，坚持自信自强、守正创新，在自己选择的正确道路上昂首阔步走下去，以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴。

——人民是决定党和国家前途命运的根本力量。江泽民同志对人民无限忠诚，心中始终装着人民。他提出要“以人民群众为本”，反复强调“最大多数人的利益是最紧要和最具有决定性的因素。这是马克思主义的基本观点”，必须不断实现好、维护好、发展好最广大人民的根本利益。新征程上，我们一定要坚持人民至上，全心全意为人民服务，贯彻以人民为中心的发展思想，发展全过程人民民主，始终保持同人民群众的血肉联系，始终同人民同呼吸、共命运、心连心，推动人的全面发展、全体人民共同富裕取得更为明显的实质性进展。

——改革开放是决定当代中国前途命运的关键一招。江泽民同志强调：“通过理论创新推动制度创新、科技创新、文化创新以及其他各方面的创新，不断在实践中探索前进，永不自满、永不懈怠，这是我们要长期坚持的治党治国之道。”新征程上，我们一定要准确识变、科学应变、主动求变，贯彻新发展理念，构建新发展格局，推动高质量发展，全面推进改革开放，不断完善中国特色社会主义制度，推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化，不断赢得优势、赢得主动、赢得未来。

——中国的发展离不开世界，世界的繁荣也需要中国。江泽民同志强调，我们必须顺应历史潮流，推动建立公正合理的国际政治经济新秩序，争取长期和平国际环境，全面维护我国国家安全和利益，不断为人类和平与发展的崇高事业作出新的更大贡献。新征程上，我们一定要坚持胸怀天下，高举和平、发展、合作、共赢旗帜，弘扬全人类共同价值，推动共建“一带一路”高质量发展，推动建设新型国际关系，推动构建人类命运共同体，同世界上一切进步力量携手前进。

——敢于斗争、敢于胜利是中国共产党和中国人民不可战胜的强大精神力量。江泽民同志强调：“我们党正在领导人民进行建设社会主义现代化的伟大斗争，不可避免地会遇到许多复杂情况，国际国内的严峻形势和不同社会制度、不同思想体系的对立和斗争，经常考验着每个党员。”“要有压倒一切敌人的英雄气概。”“人不能低下高贵的头。”新征程上，我们一定要保持只争朝夕、奋发有为的奋斗姿态和越是艰险越向前的斗争精神，掌握历史主动，增强全党全国各族人民的志气、骨气、底气，不信邪、不怕鬼、不怕压，全力战胜前进道路上各种困难和挑战。

同志们、朋友们！

江泽民同志同我们永别了。他的英名、业绩、思想、风范将永载史册，世世代代铭刻在人民心中。全党全军全国各族人民要更加紧密地团结在党中央周围，踔厉奋发、勇毅前行，为全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面推进中华民族伟大复兴而团结奋斗。

江泽民同志永垂不朽！

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered a speech at the memorial meeting for Comrade Jiang Zemin on Tuesday.

The following is the full text of the speech:

Speech at the memorial meeting for Comrade Jiang Zemin

Dec. 6, 2022

by Xi Jinping

Comrades and friends,

Today, with profound grief, we hold a memorial meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to mourn our beloved Comrade Jiang Zemin.

At this moment, the people in Party and government organs, business and public institutions, the countryside, schools, military units, and urban neighborhoods across the country, staff with Chinese embassies and consulates as well as institutions stationed abroad, compatriots in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), the Macao SAR and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese, are together with us to cherish the memories of Comrade Jiang Zemin's extraordinary achievements and outstanding qualities and to express our grief.

The whole Party, the entire military and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups are in profound grief for the loss of a great man in the passing of Comrade Jiang Zemin. People all over the world, leaders of other countries and international friends in various fields have also expressed their heartfelt condolences.

Comrade Jiang Zemin was an outstanding leader enjoying high prestige acknowledged by the whole Party, the entire military and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, a great Marxist, a great proletarian revolutionary, statesman, military strategist and diplomat, a long-tested communist fighter, and an outstanding leader of the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. He was the core of the Party's third generation of central collective leadership and the principal founder of the Theory of Three Represents.

We hold Comrade Jiang Zemin in high esteem, and cherish the memory of Comrade Jiang Zemin because he devoted his life to the Chinese people, and worked tirelessly throughout his life to contribute to the cause of national independence and the liberation of the people, and to the prosperity of our country and the well-being of our people. In particular, the great achievements of our Party and the country in the 13 years following the fourth plenary session of the 13th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee are inseparable from Comrade Jiang Zemin's great talent, bold vision, key role, and exceptional art of political leadership. The immortal feats Comrade Jiang Zemin had accomplished for the Party and the people won him the heartfelt love and esteem of the whole Party, the entire military and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, as well as the wide acclaim of the international community!

Comrades and friends!

Ever since his adolescent years, Comrade Jiang Zemin had committed himself to seeking truth and actively involved himself in the people's revolutionary movements. He was from Yangzhou City in Jiangsu Province. Born into a patriotic intellectual family in August 1926, he was enlightened by patriotism and the ideas of the democratic revolution from a young age. In the winter of 1943, he took part in patriotic progressive student movements led by underground CPC organizations. In April 1946, he joined the CPC and had since devoted all his life to the Party and the people.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), Comrade Jiang Zemin had successively worked at enterprises, scientific research institutions, and state ministries and commissions. He was dedicated, responsible and hardworking at each and every post he was assigned to, and devoted his prime years to the cause of socialist revolution and construction. He did a lot of pioneering work for the endeavor of reform and opening-up. At the 12th CPC National Congress, he was elected member of the CPC Central Committee.

Starting from 1985, Comrade Jiang Zemin served as mayor of Shanghai, deputy secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, and then secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee. He led the work to chart the course for the city's economic development and urban construction, and put forward the goal of building Shanghai into a socialist modern city that is open, multifunctional, industrially well-structured, scientifically and technologically advanced, and culturally advanced by the end of the 20th century. He stressed building Pudong into a world-class new urban area that can serve as a modern international hub. He also pushed for institutional arrangements to address the people's practical concerns. He had made outstanding contributions to helping Shanghai open new ground in reform, opening-up and socialist modernization drive. He was elected member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee at the first plenary session of the 13th CPC Central Committee. In the late spring and early summer of 1989, a severe political disturbance took place in China. Comrade Jiang Zemin resolutely upheld and implemented the CPC Central Committee's correct decision on taking a clear stand against the turmoil, defending China's socialist state power and safeguarding the fundamental interests of the people, and effectively maintained the stability of Shanghai by relying on the solid support of Party members, cadres and the masses.

Comrades and friends!

In June 1989, Comrade Jiang Zemin was elected member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and general secretary of the CPC Central Committee at the fourth plenary session of the 13th CPC Central Committee. In November that year, at the fifth plenary session of the 13th CPC Central Committee, it was decided that he would serve as the chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the CPC. The Party's third generation of central collective leadership with Comrade Jiang Zemin at the core took shape.

At the time when Comrade Jiang Zemin assumed principal leading posts in the Party and the military, China was at a critical moment, facing both pressure from abroad and difficulties at home. Comrade Jiang Zemin took charge at a challenging time. "For the cause of the Party and the people, I would give my best, give my all, till my heart ceases to beat," Comrade Jiang Zemin had said with a strong resolve.

Between the late 1980s and early 1990s, political disturbances erupted in the international arena and in China. World socialism experienced serious twists and turns. Some Western countries imposed so-called "sanctions" on China. The development of China's socialist cause faced unprecedented difficulties and pressures. At this historical juncture critical to the future and destiny of the Party and the state, Comrade Jiang Zemin led the central collective leadership of the CPC -- which firmly relied on the whole Party, the entire military and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups -- in unswervingly taking economic development as the central task, unequivocally upholding the Four Cardinal Principles, adhering to reform and opening-up, resolutely carrying out rectifications and strengthening ideological work in all respects. He also led the leadership in furthering the efforts to improve Party conduct, build clean government and fight corruption, in strengthening the Party's ties with the masses, and in actively carrying out diplomatic struggles and resolutely safeguarding national independence, dignity, security and stability. All these safeguarded the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. After painstaking efforts, the Party and the people successfully stabilized the general situation of reform and development, laying a solid foundation for our country's development.

During the 13 years between the fourth plenary session of the 13th CPC Central Committee and the 16th CPC National Congress, China's reform, opening-up and socialist modernization drive unfolded with great momentum amid a highly volatile international situation.

In a complex environment both abroad and at home, Comrade Jiang Zemin led the central collective leadership of the CPC in holding high the great banners of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory, unswervingly adhering to the Party's basic line, and firmly relying on the whole Party, the entire military and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Comrade Jiang Zemin put forward the basic principle of seizing opportunities, deepening the reform and opening China wider to the outside world, promoting development and maintaining stability. He expounded on the 12 major relationships that should be properly handled in boosting socialist modernization, which deepened our understanding of the laws that underlie socialist modernization.

Stressing the importance of seizing opportunities without fail, and blazing new trails instead of following the beaten track, he led the formulation and implementation of a raft of principles, policies and major strategies to promote reform, development and stability. He led the establishment of the Party's basic program for the primary stage of socialism, providing strong guidance for upholding and developing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

He led us in defining building a socialist market economy as an objective of reform and setting a basic framework in this regard, and establishing a basic economic system for the primary stage of socialism under which public ownership is the mainstay and diverse forms of ownership develop together, as well as an income distribution system under which distribution according to work is the mainstay while multiple forms of distribution exist alongside. He led efforts to advance economic and political structural reforms as well as reforms in the cultural sector and other fields.

Comrade Jiang Zemin engaged in forward-looking strategic thinking on building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and attaining the third-step strategic objectives for the modernization drive. He pointed out that efforts should be concentrated on fully building a moderately prosperous society of a higher standard for the benefit of well over 1 billion people in the first two decades of the 21st century.

He stressed that confidence is derived from prosperity while backwardness makes a country vulnerable to attack. It is essential for the Party to give top priority to development in governing and rejuvenating the country, and focus wholeheartedly on developing the economy and pursuing development. He proposed a combination of bringing in foreign investments and going global, and the promotion of reform and development through opening-up. He led China in joining the World Trade Organization and reaching a new stage of opening-up.

He led us in developing socialist democracy, implementing the rule of law as a basic strategy, developing advanced socialist culture, realizing the smooth return of Hong Kong and Macao, pushing for both sides of the Taiwan Strait to reach the 1992 Consensus embodying the one-China principle, and making major moves to fight against separatists and oppose "Taiwan independence."

He remained committed to developing keen insights into the overall trend of the changing global situation with a global vision, and put forward a series of thoughts on diplomacy and international strategies. He actively promoted the building of a multipolar world, pushed for greater democracy in international relations, respected the diversity of the world, pushed for the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and led us in breaking new ground on the diplomatic front.

He stressed that to do a good job of governing the country, we must first do a good job of governing the Party, and that means governing it strictly. He underscored commitment to study, political integrity, and rectitude, and the advancement of the great new project of Party building. He stressed the need to resolve two historical problems, namely improving the Party's performance in leadership and governance, and increasing its ability to resist corruption, prevent degeneration and ward off risks. He stressed the need to unswervingly improve conduct, build integrity, and combat corruption, always maintain the vigor and vitality, dashing spirit and integrity as communists, and always maintain the Party's advanced and pure nature.

He led us in properly handling the relations between reform, development and stability, making impressive and new progress in material, political and cultural-ethical advancement and Party building, and successfully advancing socialism with Chinese characteristics to the 21st century.

Comrade Jiang Zemin had a thorough understanding of the development trend of the new military transformation taking place in the world and led the formulation of the military strategy in a new period. He stressed the necessity of advancing military transformation with Chinese characteristics, unswervingly adhering to a Chinese approach of having fewer but better troops, and making them more revolutionary, modern and standardized. "To put it in a nutshell, the issues that I have concentrated on in recent years are whether the armed forces could fight to win while never degrading in character," he said.

He underscored unswervingly upholding the Party's absolute leadership over the people's military, adding that the armed forces should be qualified politically and competent militarily and have fine conduct, strict discipline and guaranteed support. They should preserve their nature, character and fine conduct as the people's armed forces.

Comrade Jiang Zemin stressed placing the focal point of military preparedness on winning local wars in the information age, and speeding up the development of national defense and weaponry and equipment. He made the strategic decision to stop military and armed police units, as well as judicial, procuratorial and public security organs from doing business. Thanks to Comrade Jiang Zemin's leadership and efforts, great achievements had been made in modernizing the national defense and the armed forces.

Committed to emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, advancing with the times, and respecting the practice and the people, Comrade Jiang Zemin put forward a series of new ideas, viewpoints and judgments on building socialism with Chinese characteristics, and made outstanding contributions to upholding and developing the Party's basic theory, line, program and experience. In particular, by pooling the wisdom of the whole Party, he formulated the Theory of Three Represents, which further answers the questions of what socialism is and how to build it, and creatively addresses what kind of Party to build and how to build it. The Theory of Three Represents has deepened our understanding of rules to advance the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and strengthen Party building in the new conditions. With its new ideas, viewpoints and judgments, it serves as a continuation, enrichment and development of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory.

In the 13 years following the fourth plenary session of the 13th CPC Central Committee, Comrade Jiang Zemin led us in effectively tackling a series of international emergencies concerning China's sovereignty and security, overcoming difficulties and risks cropping up in the political and economic spheres and those brought by natural disasters, and in particular, successfully coping with the impact of the Asian financial crisis and winning a victory in the disaster relief efforts during the devastating floods in 1998, thus guaranteeing that the great ship of China's reform, opening-up, and socialist modernization forges ahead on the right track.

Comrade Jiang Zemin attached great importance to the major strategic issues that were vital to the cause of the Party and the people. When preparing for the 16th CPC National Congress, he proposed that he would no longer serve in the central leading posts and that he would retire from the CPC Central Committee to facilitate the leadership transition of the Party and the state. The CPC Central Committee accepted his proposal. In 2004, he offered to retire from his posts as chairman of the CMC of the CPC and chairman of the CMC of the PRC, which fully displays his great foresight for the development of the cause of the Party and the state.

After retiring from leadership posts, Comrade Jiang Zemin firmly upheld the work of the CPC Central Committee and gave it his support. He cared for the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and resolutely supported the efforts to improve Party conduct and combat corruption. In 2006, Comrade Jiang Zemin was personally in charge of editing and finalizing the first, second and third volumes of "Selected Works of Jiang Zemin." These works are a major textbook that we can use to advance the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the great new project of Party building.

Comrade Jiang Zemin developed a distinctive revolutionary spirit and demeanor through long years of revolutionary practice. Comrade Jiang Zemin was far-sighted, and could make correct assessments of different situations. He always observed and reflected on issues by taking into consideration the general development trends of China and the world, as well as the overall work of the Party and the state, continuously advancing theoretical innovation and innovation in other fields.

Comrade Jiang Zemin was firm in his convictions and decisive in his actions. He always put the Party and the people first, and unswervingly adhered to the ideals and beliefs of communists. At critical moments, Comrade Jiang Zemin had the great courage to make resolute decisions and theoretical innovation. He valued practice and kept pace with the times. He always grasped the trends and opportunities of the times, summarizing experience and seeking new ways based on the vibrant practice of the Party and the people, thus advancing the work of the Party and the state in a down-to-earth yet enterprising manner.

Comrade Jiang Zemin respected and cared for the people, always paying great attention to their security and well-being, and assessing and advancing work based on the fundamental interests of the greatest possible majority of the Chinese people. The distinctive revolutionary spirit and demeanor of Comrade Jiang Zemin will remain immortal in our hearts and will always educate and motivate us on the way forward.

The passing of Comrade Jiang Zemin is an inestimable loss to our Party, our military and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups. The CPC Central Committee calls on the whole Party, the entire military and the people of all ethnic groups to turn grief into strength, carry forward Comrade Jiang Zemin's legacy, mourn his passing with concrete actions, and write new chapters in the development of the cause of the Party and the country on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

-- Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology upon which our Party and our country are founded and thrive. The most valuable asset Comrade Jiang Zemin left us is the Theory of Three Represents. He said: "I raised this after a long period of thinking." "The thought of Three Represents didn't spring fully-formed into existence, but had been the result of 13 years of theoretical and practical explorations and trail-blazing." The Theory of Three Represents is a guiding ideology that the Party must adhere to on a long-term basis. On the new journey, we must adapt the basic tenets of Marxism to China's specific realities and its fine traditional culture. We must proceed from reality, keep responding to the questions posed by China, by the world, by the people, and by the times, and ensure that Marxism always retains its vigor and vitality.

-- The leadership of the CPC is the fundamental guarantee for the cause of the Party and the people to go forward in spite of all difficulties. Comrade Jiang Zemin once said, "as a veteran CPC member, I sincerely hope that all CPC members, especially comrades in the central leadership, always put the Party first and always consciously uphold and maintain the CPC leadership in various fields of work. This is where the hope of the Party and the country lies." On the new journey, we must always stay sober and determined. We must enhance the Four Consciousnesses, reinforce the Four-Sphere Confidence, and ensure the Two Upholds. We must carry forward the great founding spirit of the Party, stay true to our founding mission, have the courage to advance self-reform, and see that the Party always serves as the strong leadership core in the course of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

-- The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics will allow China to catch up with the times in great strides and play a leading role. In 2001, at the ceremony marking the Party's 80th anniversary, Comrade Jiang Zemin emphasized in his speech that the practice over the past 80 years had taught us we must unswervingly adhere to our own path, which was the most fundamental experience we gain from summarizing the Party's history. On the new journey, we must stick to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, adhere to the Party's basic theory, basic line, and basic policy, stay confident and build strength, uphold fundamental principles and break new ground. We must keep moving confidently forward in broad strides along the right path that we have chosen for ourselves, and advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

-- The people are the fundamental force that determines the future of our Party and our country. Comrade Jiang Zemin was utterly loyal to the people, and had always put the people in his heart. He put forward the idea of putting the people first, and repeatedly stressed that it is a basic viewpoint of Marxism to consider the interests of the overwhelming majority of the people as the most critical and decisive factor, and that we must realize, safeguard, and advance the fundamental interests of the greatest possible majority of the Chinese people. On the new journey, we must put the people front and center, serve the people wholeheartedly, apply a people-centered development philosophy, develop whole-process people's democracy, and maintain close ties with the people. We must breathe the same air as the people, share the same future, stay truly connected to them, and make more notable and substantive progress toward achieving well-rounded human development and common prosperity for all.

-- Reform and opening-up is a crucial move in determining the future and destiny of contemporary China. "We should promote institutional innovation, technological innovation, cultural innovation and innovation in other aspects through theoretical innovation, and make explorations and advances amid practices, without ever getting complacent or slackening our efforts. That is the way of governing the Party and the state that entails long-term adherence," Comrade Jiang Zemin stressed. On the new journey, we must accurately identify changes, adeptly respond to them, and work to steer them in our favor. We must apply the new development philosophy, create a new pattern of development, and promote high-quality development. We must comprehensively promote reform and opening-up, constantly improve the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, and advance the modernization of the state governance system and capacity so as to gain the edge, seize the initiative and embrace a good future.

-- China cannot develop without the rest of the world, and the world needs China for prosperity. Comrade Jiang Zemin stressed that we must adjust ourselves to the historical trends, promote the establishment of a new international political and economic order that is just and reasonable, strive for a long-term peaceful international environment, comprehensively safeguard our national security and interests, and constantly make new and greater contributions to the noble cause of humankind's peace and development. On the new journey, we must always keep global well-being in mind, holding high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit and promoting the common values shared by humankind. Efforts should be made to jointly advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, facilitate the establishment of a new type of international relations, push forward the building of a community of shared future for humankind, and join hands and press ahead with all the progressive forces in the world.

-- Having the courage to fight and the mettle to win is an invincible source of inspiration for the CPC and the Chinese people. Comrade Jiang Zemin stressed, "Our Party is leading the people in conducting a great struggle of developing socialist modernization, which will be inevitably confronted with many complications. The grave situations both outside and inside the country, and the confrontations and conflicts between different social systems and ideological systems frequently pose challenges to every Party member." "We must have the heroic bravery to defeat all the enemies." "One cannot bow his or her noble head." On the new journey, it is imperative for us to race against time and keep striving forward, uphold a fighting spirit to rise to difficulties and grasp the historical initiative. We must foster a firmer sense of purpose, fortitude, and self-belief in the whole Party and among the Chinese people of all ethnic groups so that we cannot be swayed by fallacies, deterred by intimidation, or cowed by pressure, and thus dig deep to surmount the difficulties and challenges on the road ahead.

Comrades and friends!

Comrade Jiang Zemin has parted from us forever. But, his name and reputation, deeds of merit, thoughts and outstanding qualities will go down the annals of history and remain immortal in the hearts of the people from generation to generation. The whole Party, the entire military and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups must rally more closely around the CPC Central Committee, forge ahead with enterprise and fortitude, and strive in unity to build a modern socialist country in all respects and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts.

Eternal glory to Comrade Jiang Zemin!