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A personal reflection on President Jiang Zemin

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A personal reflection on President Jiang Zemin

By NZCFS Patron Rt Hon Sir David Carter

The recent death of Jiang Zemin at 96 years of age has been a time for me to reflect on one particular day in September 1999. On that day I had the privilege of hosting this former President of the People’s Republic of China in Christchurch.

President Jiang Zemin had come to New Zealand to attend the 1999 APEC conference being held in Auckland. This was a major event for New Zealand, with 21 world leaders in attendance including Bill Clinton (United States of America), Vladimir Putin (Russia), John Howard (Australia), and of course Jiang Zemin (People’s Republic of China).

It was the first time a President of China had ever come to New Zealand on an official visit. It was a huge opportunity for us to further enhance the relationship between China and New Zealand.

Subsequent to the Leader’s APEC meeting, New Zealand had the challenge of hosting three simultaneous state visits in the days immediately following APEC, with the two critical ones being Jiang Zemin and Bill Clinton.

Imagine the logistics and the challenges of such things as security, motorcades and accommodation for the delegation, when hosting the two most important leaders of the time in New Zealand. I was at the time only a Junior Minister (a Minister outside Cabinet) in the Shipley government. But this challenge became a privilege and an opportunity for me.

During the day — 14 September 1999, if I recall it accurately — we spent time in rural Canterbury, as Jiang Zemin had expressed an interest in New Zealand’s expertise in primary production. He had a special interest in forestry, so we travelled to Darfield to visit Selwyn Plantation Board.

I especially remember the journey back to Christchurch; he and I sat in the back of a Crown limousine, and because I spoke no Mandarin and he spoke very limited English, our conversation was constrained.

But at one stage, he reached across to me and beckoned for me to hand him the programme of Selwyn Plantation visit, which I was holding.

With a broad smile, he then signed in beautiful Chinese calligraphy this programme. A memento of the day. I had it framed and gave it to the Selwyn Plantation Board, as a keepsake of that special day.

That evening a banquet was to be held in Christchurch with approximately 1000 guests attending. My wife and I were standing in the foyer of the then Park Royal Hotel (destroyed in the earthquake of 2011), waiting for Jiang Zemin to come down and for us to drive across the city to The Grand Chancellor hotel, the only venue big enough to host the dinner (The Grand Chancellor was also destroyed in the earthquake).

As we waited, we were told that Jiang Zemin was offended by a protest that had formed outside The Grand Chancellor objecting to his visit. After protracted negotiations and the protestors being shaded from his view, he agreed to attend the dinner. This was much to the delight of the assembled guests, who appeared to be in a very relaxed frame of mind, having imbibed plenty of wine during the delayed commencement of the banquet.

Jiang Zemin also sensed the friendly and relaxed atmosphere. It was a special moment when he decided, as dinner was concluding, to give an impromptu performance. He sat at the piano and played an impressive Chinese melody. The applause was amazing, so he decided to do one better. He then sang a song to the one thousand assembled guests. A virtuoso performance.

What had started as a difficult diplomatic standoff, had become an outstanding success.

This very special day happened early in my political career. Perhaps at the time, I didn’t fully appreciate the privilege I had been given in hosting the leader of the most populous country in the world.

But this day might also have been the start of my absolute admiration for this remarkable country and the economic transformation that has been undertaken by leaders like Jiang Zemin, and others that followed him.

His contribution to this transformation was immense. On his passing, he has now been credited with being the leader who roused China to be the global economic powerhouse that is it today.

I was privileged to spend that day with a remarkable world leader.