A prominent research group within the Communist Party of China has officially linked the legacy of former leader Jiang Zemin to the current administration of President Xi Jinping. In an article published Sunday in the People’s Daily, the party’s official newspaper, the Institute of Party History and Literature emphasized the importance of party unity during a period marked by significant economic and geopolitical challenges.

The publication coincides with the centenary celebrations of Jiang Zemin’s birth. By highlighting the achievements of the party’s “third-generation leadership,” the article seeks to establish a sense of historical continuity, framing the current support for Xi Jinping as a necessary evolution of the party’s foundational goals. The text explicitly calls for members to rally around the current leadership, suggesting that internal cohesion is the primary mechanism for navigating China's modern difficulties.

While the article focuses on the historical contributions of Jiang, the primary intent appears to be the consolidation of political authority. By invoking the memory of a former leader who presided over a period of rapid economic growth, the party aims to bolster the legitimacy of Xi’s current policies. The messaging underscores a strategic effort to minimize internal dissent by tying the current administration’s stability to the party’s long-standing historical narrative.