December 2, 2022
Condolence Message on the Passing of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin
SGI President Daisaku Ikeda sent a condolence message on the passing of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin on November 30, 2022.
Mr. Jiang, who passed away at the age of 96,
was general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party from 1989 to 2002 and
president of China from 1993 to 2003. Prior to that he served as mayor of
Shanghai. As architect of the “socialist market economy,” he laid the
foundation for China’s remarkable economic development.
In his message, President Ikeda noted Mr.
Jiang’s achievements as a national leader who surmounted many difficulties
while devoting himself to the well-being of the people and the development of
the country.
He and Mr. Jiang met four times, discussing topics including Sino-Japanese relations, culture and the arts. In 1990, Mr. Jiang attended of the launch in Beijing of the first China tour of “Dialogue with Nature,” an exhibition of Mr. Ikeda’s photography, and viewed
Mr. Ikeda’ s works. In the guestbook, he wrote in calligraphy the words “Bridge of Friendship.”
[Adapted from an article in the December 2, 2022, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, Soka Gakkai, Japan]
