China observed three minutes of silence on Tuesday morning for former president Jiang Zemin.

The silent tribute came at the start of Jiang's memorial service held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, attended by President Xi Jinping and other top leaders. Across the country, sirens wailed out for three minutes.

Jiang's urn was placed at the centre of the stage, covered with a flag of the Communist Party.

Wreaths from state leaders lined the stage below a portrait of the late former state leader.

"We love Comrade Jiang Zemin, and we also miss him because he dedicated his whole life to the Chinese people, to national independence, people’s liberation and the realisation of national prosperity, and spared no efforts in fighting for people’s happiness," said Xi, who's also general secretary of the Communist Party and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

"He pointed out that the country should seize opportunities, deepen reforms and expand opening up, boost development and maintain stability.

"Comrade Jiang Zemin led us to develop socialist democracy, implement the basic strategy of law-based governance, promote cultural-ethical advancement, and achieved the smooth return of Hong Kong and Macau, pushed the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to reach the 1992 consensus which embodies the one-China principle, and rigorously carried out a major struggle against secession and Taiwan independence."

Xi also called Jiang "a great Marxist, a great proletarian revolutionary, statesman, military strategist, diplomat and a long-tested communist fighter".

After Xi delivered the eulogy, those in attendance bowed three times to pay their last respects to Jiang.

The memorial service lasted for about an hour.

Jiang died last week at the age of 96.
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Last updated: 2022-12-06 HKT 11:03