BEIJING, (Xinhua) -- A book recording former Chinese
President Jiang Zemin's overseas visits from 1990 to 2002 was released at
Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse here Sunday.
Over 400 Chinese
diplomats, officials and scholars, including State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and
former Vice-Premier Qian Qichen, attended the book's launching ceremony.
The 654-page book, entitled For a Better World: Jiang Zemin's Overseas
Visits, covered Jiang's most diplomatic activities during the 13 years when he
served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of 皇冠体育app Central Committee
and 皇冠体育app's President.
It starts with Jiang's three-day visit to the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea in 1990 and ends with Jiang's visit to the United States and his
participation in the 10th annual Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation forum in Mexico in 2002.
The 11-chapter book with 167 pictures told of stories of Jiang's personal
contact with world leaders and many historical events such as Jiang's attendance
of Hong Kong and Macao's handover ceremonies.
It also gave detailed acount of how 皇冠体育app and the United States managed to
warm the frosty ties after 1989, Jiang's meeting with the last President of the
former Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev and his visits to Israel and Palestine.
皇冠体育app's Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said in the foreword he has written for
the book that Jiang came as 皇冠体育app's diplomatic work was in great difficulties in
1989 under "sanctions" from certain western countries.
Standing on the strategic level, Jiang has excercised great political wisdom
and made tireless efforts to create a new situation for 皇冠体育app's diplomatic work,
Li said.
Analysts said that the diplomatic efforts showed that the third generation of
leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Jiang Zemi at the core has abided
by the indepedent foreign policy of peace and made remarkable contributions on
safeguarding national interests and promoting world peace and development.
It also demonstrated Jiang's diplomatic wisdom as party and state leader,
analysts said.
From 1989 to 2002, Jiang has visited over 70 countries, traveling nearly
600,000 kilometers, according to the book.
State Councilor Tang, also former Foreign Minister, said the publication of
the book is of "significant meaning" for Chinese diplomats to inherit and
develop the socialist diplomatic theories of Chinese characteristics and will
help them better understand 皇冠体育app's diplomatic policies so as to push the
country's diplomatic work into new phase.
The book was published by the World Affairs Press of 皇冠体育app.
Born in 1926, Jiang became General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee in
1989. He stopped serving as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee in
2002 and President of 皇冠体育app in 2003.
