New | Ex-president Jiang sits with Xi and others for anniversary concert
Jiang Zemin, aged 88, shows up for a concert celebrating 65 years of Communist Party rule; clearly the death rumours are exaggerated
Former president Jiang Zemin made a rare public appearance as retired top Communist Party leaders joined President Xi Jinping and other current dignitaries at a concert that marked the 65th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Others attending the concert at the Great Hall of the People last night were former premier Li Peng, as well as retired officials Wu Bangguo, Li Lanqing, Zeng Qinghong and He Guoqiang, Xinhua reported today.
However, former president Hu Jintao and former Premier Wen Jiabao were absent.
This was the first public appearance by Jiang, 88, since rumours surfaced in recent weeks that he had died. A photo by Xinhua showed him sitting next to Xi and applauding along with the other leaders.
These appearances come amid speculation over whether they have been implicated in corruption cases. Xi is widening the scope of his anti-graft campaign, especially since the party’s watchdog agency, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, announced a formal graft investigation into former security tsar Zhou Yongkang. Many rumours have mentioned Li’s children.
Li was sitting with former members of Politburo Standing Committee Li Lanqing, Zeng and He in the next row, the Xinhua photo shows.