Jiang Zemin Quotes

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: What I said does not mean I imperially appointed him to serve the next term. You asked me whether I support him or not, I support him. I can tell you explicitly.

Cheung: Then Mr. Tung...

Jiang: Replying what you've just asked me, I can just say "no comment." But you guys wouldn't be happy. So what should I do?

Cheung: But can you...

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

Qian: She said that is that you want to imperially appointed Mr. Tung...

Jiang: (to Qian Qichen) What does she said?

Cheung: President Jiang, now in such an early time, you said that you supported Mr. Tung. Will that give people the impression that there is already an internal decision or had imperially appointed [or "handpicked"] Mr. Tung?

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.

Cheung: It’s Chris Patten who said that.

Jiang: Never heard before.

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: Well... I don't have much time to talk to you after all, I'm sorry...

Cheung: Then why mentioning it so early? Is there any other candidate?