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Jiang: Hu's takeover natural and convincing
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-09-21 09:08
Jiang Zemin, who just handed over his post as military chief of the Communist
Party of China (CPC) to Hu Jintao Sunday, expressed his strong support to Hu 's
succession in Beijing Monday, urging all to "resolutely support" Hu's work.
Jiang Zemin, former
chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of
China, delivers an important speech at an enlarged meeting of the CPC
Central Military Commission (CMC) held in Beijing Sept. 20, 2004.
[Xinhua] |
"Comrade Jintao is the general secretary of the Party and president of the
state, so it's natural and convincing for him to take over as the chairman of
the Central Military Commission (CMC)," said Jiang, 78, while he and Hu attended
an enlarged meeting of the CMC held in Beijing Monday morning.
"I'm convinced that the Party Central Committee had made a correct decision
in choosing Comrade Jintao to take over as the CMC chairman," said Jiang. "All
of you must advocate the Party Central Committee's decision and resolutely
support his (Hu's) work."
Jiang praised the 61-year-old Hu as a "young and energetic" leader with "rich
leading experience" and "excellent qualifications".
"Since he started to serve as CMC vice-chairman in 1999, he was directly
involved in the making of a series of major decisions regarding army building,"
said Jiang.
"Comrade Jintao is absolutely qualified to be the CMC chairman," he stressed.
He explained that for a large party like the CPC and a large country like
China, "it is not only necessary, but also the most appropriate option to adopt
a three-in-one leadership system under which Party general secretary, state
president and CMC chairman is the same person".
"To hand over this three-in-one duty to Comrade Jintao is conducive to the
long-term development of the cause of the Party and the military, to the
stability and prosperity of the country in the long run, as well as to the
upholding of the fundamental principle and system of the Party's absolute
leadership over the military," Jiang noted.
Stating that "the top leadership of our Party, state and military has
completely and smoothly realized an old-to-new transfer and transition", Jiang
said: "Now I have accomplished my historical mission and fulfilled my historical
duty."
"I'm very pleased to see that the cause of the Party, state and military has
had a good successor," he added.
Jiang also reviewed his work as the Party military chief in the past 15 years
since 1989. "When Comrade (Deng) Xiaoping handed over the post of CMC chairman
to me, I really felt that an extremely heavy burden had been put on my
shoulders," he recalled.
"Over the past 15 years, I had tried my best to live up
to the trust of Comrade Xiaoping," said Jiang. "Day and night, I was always
concerned about our country's sovereignty and security and our army's building
and development."
"Though I'm retired now, my heart will always be linked with the military,
with all officers and soldiers of the army, and with the comrades in the CMC,"
he said.
Hu: Jiang sets a splendid example
Meanwhile, Hu Jintao praised Jiang Zemin for easing in a new era of Chinese
leadership and for his "noble character, sterling integrity and
broad-mindedness."
Hu Jintao, chairman
of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China,
delivers an important speech at an enlarged meeting of the CPC Central
Military Commission (CMC) held in Beijing Sept. 20, 2004. [Xinhua]
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"Jiang's decision to resign his post as chairman of the CPC Central Military
Commission was made after meticulous consideration," said Hu.
"He (Jiang) stands high, sees afar and reckons deep," Hu said. "Chairman
Jiang's noble character, sterling integrity and broad- mindedness has set a
splendid example for us," said Hu at an enlarged meeting of the Central Military
Commission attended by Jiang.
Now Jiang Zemin's ideas on national defence and army building will be
included among the thoughts of the other great Chinese leaders, Hu said. Those
ideas will stand besides Chinese military studies and practices and the writings
of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.
Hu went on to say that Jiang has made "outstanding contributions" to the
military and the country during the past 15 years when he served as CMC chairman
and during the 13 years prior to the 16th CPC National Congress when serving as
general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.
Hu stressed that the most important issue for the building and development of
the Chinese army is to adhere to the Party's absolute leadership over the armed
forces.
"We can never be ambiguous or vacillating in our stance" at any time or under
any circumstance in upholding the principle, Hu said.
At present, the most important, most realistic and most pressing task is to
make the army ready for combat by constantly improving its training and
performance, Hu said.
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