The former president of China Jiang Zemin is dead at 96. He was the communist leader who made it possible for the Asian country to later become a superpower.
This sad news was reported by the Xinhua news agency. The former president is reported to have died of Leukemia which caused multiple organ failure. He died in Shangai.
He is survived by his wife, 2 sons and 2 grandchildren. In 1989, the western countries shunned him following the Tianamen Square massacre in China.
Later Jiang helped China get reintegrated with the West after winning the bid to host the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and regaining sovereignty over Hong Kong. China also joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) as a member.
While he was active in politics, Jiang Zemin served as the boss of the ruling communist party. He had been handpicked by the then paramount leader Deng Xiaoping.
From 2002, Jiang handed over power to Hu Jintao who succeeded him. Jintao started as the party boss and later and the President of China.
After retirement he continued to have influence including as being involved in the selection of the current leader as president.
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