Former president of China, Jiang Zemin, passed away at the age of 96 from Leukaemia and multiple organ failure, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
Jiang, who was the president of China for 10 years from 1993 to 2003, was notably absent from the CCP congress last month due to his illness.
Rise to power
Jiang became president of China in 1993 following the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989, and China experienced high economic growth during his tenure.
He allocated funds to develop the Special Economic Zones and coastal regions, and advocated for China’s opening tot he world, as well as making frequent visits to the US.
He subsequently made way for his successor Hu Jintao in 2002, and also reportedly had a hand in picking current president Xi Jinping.