COMMUNIST Party chief Jiang Zemin will soon have his portrait painted by 'royal painter' Li Qi - following in the footsteps of Chairman Mao and Deng Xiaoping.
Li, famous for his paintings of top party leaders, revealed to the Economic Daily he had finally made up his mind to paint Mr Jiang.
The painter was enlisted by Mr Jiang two months ago to join a 'writing squad' to study Shanghai.
According to the Economic Daily, Li said he was so touched by his visit to the city that he felt compelled to paint the 'great General-Secretary'. Li said he originally had no plans to paint Mr Jiang because he felt it should be a job for a younger artist.
But, having heard many 'stories of Jiang Zemin in the grass roots' during his trip, Li said he felt he had to pick up his brushes to 'express the deep feelings' he had about the President.
'This time, I will try to capture not only the charm of the great General Secretary in paint, but also the harmony Jiang shares with the ordinary Chinese people,' Li told the daily.