Some say it closes the chapter on his era, others see it as ex-leader's bid to reassert political influence The Selected Works of Jiang Zemin, which hit bookshelves yesterday, highlights the political, economic and diplomatic accomplishments of the man who oversaw China's rise from political pariah in 1989 to one of the world's largest economies and leading political powers. Its publication comes after months of speculation the former leader may be trying to regain at least a modicum of political influence in the run-up to the 17th Communist Party Congress, in the hope of influencing leadership changes and safeguarding his legacy. But Andrew Yang, secretary-general of the Chinese Council of Advanced Political Studies in Taipei, said he saw no sign Mr Jiang was attempting to return to the political fray. 'I don't think Jiang Zemin can exercise any influence after stepping down,' he said. Any such attempt would be a violation of the Communist Party's political processes, he said. 'The publication of the books is just a symbolic recognition of Jiang's accomplishments in the past. It's a sort of a closing of the chapter on the Jiang era,' said Mr Yang. The three-volume set includes 203 reports, speeches, articles, letters, inscriptions and decrees issued by Mr Jiang, who sat at the pinnacle of China's leadership for 13 years until he handed the presidency to Hu Jintao in 2003, and leadership of the military a year later. He turns 80 on Thursday. Mainland media reported that some of the content was being made public for the first time. The first chapter begins in August 1980, with a speech by Mr Jiang about the establishment of special economic zones. The last chapter deals with his speech to the Central Military Commission on September 20, 2004, after he resigned as its chairman. The rumours that Mr Jiang was seeking to influence the congress have been fuelled by several public appearances by the former leader. In April, Mr Jiang took part in celebrations marking the 110th anniversary of the founding of his alma mater, Shanghai Jiaotong University. In May, he travelled to Shandong province , where he ascended Mount Tai, one of China's most famous mountains, and hobnobbed with provincial officials. A book about Mr Jiang's overseas travels was published last month. Some analysts have pointed to the growing number of problems facing China and internal disagreements over reforms that have pitted Mr Jiang's supporters against Mr Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao . 'I think that there are more than enough people around who are concerned about the direction of the country,' said Russell Leigh Moses, an American political scientist who focuses on Chinese politics. 'If I were part of the central leadership, I'd be looking over my shoulder. He's not going quietly into the night.' Mr Moses said he also found it interesting that the publication was released as party members were preparing for their upcoming meeting. 'Why not earlier?' he asked, adding that the works had been available for a long time. 'And when was the last time you saw a three-volume collection of the works of the leader of any communist state?' Nervous propaganda officials are said to have instructed the state media to exercise caution in its coverage of the books. Internet service providers were apparently also cautioned. The media greeted the publication with much fanfare. But when the doors opened at one Beijing bookstore yesterday morning, the only people crowding around the stacks of the yellow-jacketed collection were disappointed journalists, waiting in vain for the crowds they had expected to show up to buy the set.