JIANG ZEMIN was an outstanding leader enjoying high prestige acknowledged by the whole Communist Party of China (CPC), the entire military and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups. He was the core of the third generation of the Party’s central collective leadership and the principal founder of the Theory of Three Represents.

It was under Jiang’s watch that China underwent some of the biggest developments that would further integrate it with the world and elevate its status as a world power. They included the handover of Hong Kong in 1997, China formally becoming a member of the World Trade Organization in 2001, and market reforms and opening up.

Photos in this page present a glimpse into his life. (SD-Xinhua)