[News Figures] Who Is Zheng Qinghong, Who Criticized Xi Jinping?

At the Beidaihe meeting in China, former Vice President Zeng Qinghong, a close aide of the late former President Jiang Zemin, advised President Xi Jinping that "he should no longer cause (societal) turmoil."

(From left) Xi Jinping, President of China, Zeng Qinghong, former Vice President [Image source=Yonhap News]

He served as Vice President from 2003 to 2007 and is considered a key figure of the Shanghai faction. With a father (Zeng Shan) who was a member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and known for his exceptional strategic mind nicknamed "the schemer," Zeng Qinghong joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1960 and rapidly rose through the ranks to become Vice President. He is regarded as the greatest contributor to consolidating Jiang Zemin's position by neutralizing party and military power holders at the 14th (1992) and 15th (1997) Party Congresses.

At one time, he was called President Xi Jinping's "big brother" and acted as a mentor. It is known that former Vice President Zeng Qinghong played a decisive role in helping Xi Jinping surpass former Premier Li Keqiang to become a member of the Politburo Standing Committee in 2007. At that time, Zeng reportedly recommended Xi Jinping to former Presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao as a figure no faction could reject.

However, after losing his seat at the 17th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party and being ousted from the Politburo, he has rarely engaged in public activities. In 2017, he was investigated by Chinese disciplinary authorities on corruption charges.

Former President Roh Moo-hyun is shaking hands with Vice President Zeng Qinghong of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 8, 2003, before their meeting. Photo by Yonhap News

He also has ties with South Korea. He is regarded as a Chinese politician who emphasized cooperation with South Korea regarding the Korean Peninsula situation. It is known that he contributed significantly to the joint statement issued during former President Roh Moo-hyun's state visit to China in July 2003. After more than 30 hours of intense negotiations following the summit, South Korea and China issued an 11-point joint statement under the names of President Roh Moo-hyun and Chinese President Hu Jintao, covering denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue, and strengthening cooperation on the Korean Peninsula. It is reported that then Vice President Zeng Qinghong provided behind-the-scenes support for this statement.

Meanwhile, the Beidaihe meeting held last month is a gathering where current and former top leaders of the Chinese Communist Party meet privately to discuss major national issues. According to foreign media, the elder statesmen group met before the Beidaihe meeting to consolidate opinions to deliver to the leadership, and former Vice President Zeng Qinghong attended the Beidaihe meeting to convey these views. At the meeting, Zeng Qinghong pointed out to President Xi Jinping that there were problems not only in the economy but also in politics and society overall, affecting China's atmosphere. Following this meeting, President Xi reportedly expressed anger to his close aides, saying, "The problems left by the past three generations have all come crashing down," and "I have worked for ten years, but the problems remain unresolved. Is this my fault?"