Jiang Zemin Quotes

Jiang: I just... I just wanted to... that is every time I meet you all, I say, in Chinese we have saying, "make a big fortune quietly." If I had said nothing, that would have been the best. But I thought I've seen all of you so enthusiastic. If I said nothing, that wouldn't be good. So, a moment ago you just insisted... In spreading the news, if your reports are inaccurate, you have to take the responsibility. I did not say I am imperially appointing [Tung]. No such meaning. But you insisted on asking me whether I supported Mr. Tung or not. He is still the current Chief Executive. How could we not support the Chief Executive? Isn't it?

Reporters: But, that is...

Cheung: Recently the European Union has published a report... er... saying that Beijing will influence and interfere the rule-of-law in Hong Kong in some ways. What's your response to that?

Jiang: You all... My feeling is that you the media need to learn more. You are very familiar with the Western set of values, but after all, you guys are too young. Do you understand what I mean? Let me tell you, I've been through hundreds of battles, and I've seen a lot! Which country in the West have I not been to? The media staffs... You should know Mike Wallace in the US. He's way above you all! He and I talked cheerfully and humorously, which is why the media need to raise your knowledge level. Got it or not?

Jiang: I'm anxious for you all, truly. You really... I thought...Every place... You guys are good at one thing. Wherever you go to all over the world, you always run faster than Western journalists. But the questions you keep asking are too simple, sometimes naïve. Understand or not?

Cheung: President Jiang, do you think...

Jiang: I'm angry! Let me tell you, it's not okay to be like this [annoying behaviour].

You are very familiar with western ways, but you are too young. You go everywhere to follow the big news, but the questions you ask are too simple — sometimes naïve. Understand, or not?

Jiang: Never heard before.

This experience and the historical experiences gained by the Party since its founding can be summarized as follows: Our Party must always represent the requirements for developing China's advanced productive forces, the orientation of China's advanced culture and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people. These are the inexorable requirements for maintaining and developing socialism, and the logical conclusion our Party has reached through hard exploration and great praxis.

We want to learn from the west about science and technology and how to manage the economy, but this must be combined with specific conditions here. That's how we have made great progress in the last twenty years.

Jiang: Understand what I say? You all. Don't try to... make it a big piece of news, saying that "he has already been imperially appointed" and criticize me.

Jiang: No... There's no such implication whatsoever. Everything should be done in accordance with Hong Kong Basic Law and the election laws.

Jiang: You all! Naive!

Jiang: No, you can't... You the media should always bear in mind, don't "say it's the rain by just seeing the wind" [the idiom means "believing just by seeing"]. You [the media] should judge by yourselves after you have received the sources, got it? In case you say these things out of thin air for him, you may share the responsibility in some way.