Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on China’s citizens to display an “indomitable fighting spirit,” while praising the Communist Party’s decision to suppress the pro-democracy protests held in Tiananmen Square in 1989.
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Xi made the remarks in Beijing during a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin.
Addressing thousands of delegates and officials, he acknowledged that the country faces major challenges but said China has the strength needed to overcome them. “With an indomitable fighting spirit and extraordinary capabilities, we will actively confront major challenges,” Xi said.
In his speech, the Chinese leader also stressed the need to safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.
The main focus of the speech was Xi’s unusual mention of the 1989 Tiananmen protests. He praised Jiang Zemin for the way he supported the Communist Party’s decisions at the time, when Chinese authorities deployed troops and tanks to suppress the pro-democracy demonstrations in Beijing.
“Comrade Jiang Zemin firmly supported and implemented the correct decisions of the Central Committee,” Xi said, describing the authorities’ intervention as a measure that helped preserve stability.
The Tiananmen events remain among the most politically sensitive issues in China. Chinese authorities continue to restrict public debate about the protests, as well as information about the number of victims.
After the protests were suppressed, Jiang Zemin immediately assumed the post of general secretary of the Communist Party, replacing Zhao Ziyang, who was seen as more sympathetic to the protesters.
Under Jiang’s leadership, China went through an important period of economic expansion and greater openness to the rest of the world.
Among the key developments of that period was China’s admission to the World Trade Organization in 2001, a process that had the support of the United States.
