Former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin cremated in Beijing

Before escorting Jiang to the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery for cremation, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Han Zheng, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Wang Qishan, and others went to the Chinese PLA General Hospital to pay their final respects, Xinhua News Agency reported.

At the hall for paying final respects to the hospital hung a black streamer with white characters that read "Eternal glory to Comrade Jiang Zemin." Under the streamer was a large colour portrait of Jiang.

The body of Jiang, covered with the flag of the CPC, lay amidst flowers and evergreen cypresses.

On November 30, Zemin passed away due to leukaemia and multiple organ failure at the age of 96.

He passed away at 12:13 pm (local time) in Shanghai, Xinhua news agency reported.

Jiang served as general secretary of the Communist Party, as chairman of the Central Military Commission, and as president of China.

The announcement was made by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the state media said.

Jiang's death was announced in a letter addressing the whole Party, the entire military and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups.

The letter says they proclaim with profound grief to the whole Party, the entire military and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups that our beloved Comrade Jiang Zemin died of leukaemia and multiple organ failure after all medical treatments had failed.

The letter says that the leader was an "outstanding leader enjoying high prestige acknowledged by the whole Party, the entire military and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, a great Marxist, a great proletarian revolutionary, statesman, military strategist and diplomat."He was also described as "a long-tested communist fighter, and an outstanding leader of the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics."

According to Xinhua, Jiang was the core of the CPC's third generation of central collective leadership and the principal founder of the Theory of Three Represents. (ANI)