CHINA: JIANG ZEMIN PREPARES TO BECOME DENG'S REPLACEMENT

Описание: (24 Feb 1997) Mandarin/Nat

As China prepares to say its final farewell to long-time leader Deng Xiaoping, a former mayor of Shanghai prepares to take his place.

Jiang Zemin, Deng's hand-picked successor holds three of the top titles in government, representing China at most officials functions involving other heads of state.

And the huge city where he launched his political career is expressing pride in his prominent position.

This weekend in Shanghai looked like any other.

Parents and children were out and about, enjoying the benefits of living in one of China's emerging economic powerhouses.

Shanghai is a booming financial capital on the country's east coast, where a new building seems to go up every week.

But at the moment their greatest success is perhaps President Jiang Zemin, who appears to be stepping into the leadership vacuum created by Deng Xiaoping's death last week.

Jiang rose to prominence after becoming the mayor of Shanghai and was hand-picked by Deng after the political demise of two other chosen successors.

Jingo's political assets were his interest in carrying out Deng's economic reforms, and his ability to deal with student unrest without bloodshed.

With his position as successor looking solid, Shanghai's citizens express pride that one of their own holds such prominence.

SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin)
Jiang Zemin has been following the line of Chairman Deng. Now that Chairman Deng has passed away, as a citizen of Shanghai, I have full confidence in Jiang Zemin, and in general I have good feelings about him as well.
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop

The building where Jiang served as mayor appears the same as during his tenure, save for the flag flying at half-mast since Deng's death.

Jingo's service as the city's leader was not particularly distinguished.

Critics say he did not push the economy fast enough.

His steady, but not flashy hand was a product of an upper middle class upbringing.

He went to one of the best universities in Shanghai and graduated on to hold positions in several local factories, even studying business management in Moscow.

His early life lacks the romance and heroism of recent Chinese leaders.

SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin)
It is impossible for people like Jiang Zemin to reach the same level as Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. People like him do not have the same length of revolutionary experience.
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop

However, few in Jingo's generation have such credentials.

Most of the old guard, the eight immortals, are dead, and the rest are not ageing gracefully.

Li Peng, seen as Jingo's main rival for power is no more distinguished in revolutionary activities.

And Li has a liability that Jiang does not, as he carried out Deng's orders to fire on students during the Tiananmen Square debacle in June of 1989.

SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin)
I think Jiang Zemin is better than Li Peng. I don't have good feelings about Li Peng, especially about his bad performance during the "June fourth" (Tiananmen Square) event in 1989. I still think the government shouldn't have handled that event in such a way.
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop

Jingo's popularity here remains mainly a product of regional pride.

Here at the Yimin food factory, where he worked before he rose in politics, his position with the company is well-known and highly spoken of.

SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin)
Jiang Zemin used to make a famous kind of beverage when he worked here. Although we have now become a joint venture, working in a factory which had its foundation laid by the elder generation makes me feel quite proud.



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