Daily BriefAnalysis
China Post Issues Commemorative Stamps for Jiang Zemin Centenary
The official release marks the 100th anniversary of the former top leader's birth with designs highlighting key political milestones.
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The Brief
China Post issued a set of commemorative stamps and a souvenir sheet on August 17 marking the centenary of the birth of former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, according to a Xinhua report carried by People's Daily. The issue features two stamps depicting Jiang in Shanghai and at the 15th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, alongside a souvenir sheet showing him on the Tiananmen Rostrum. The planned print runs total 4 million stamp sets and 3.2 million souvenir sheets, available through designated postal outlets and online platforms for six months.
Why it matters
The issuance of commemorative stamps for the centenary of former top party and state leaders is a standard official practice in China's political protocol, reflecting the current leadership's formal appraisal and public commemoration of historical figures and their contributions.
China context
In Chinese political practice, major milestone anniversaries—especially 100th birthdays—of former paramount leaders are commemorated through strictly regulated official activities, including publications, theoretical symposia, and commemorative philatelic releases aligned with central guidance.
Editor's View
EDITOR'S VIEW — Analysis and inference, not factual reporting.
While philatelic releases may appear routine, the selection of visual motifs on official stamps serves as an intentional reflection of historical consensus. By highlighting Jiang's tenure in Shanghai, his leadership at the 15th Party Congress in 1997, and high-profile state occasions at Tiananmen, the release underscores key transitional eras in China's post-reform governance and political consolidation.
What to watch
- Whether central authorities hold an official commemorative symposium in Beijing marking Jiang Zemin's centenary.
- The presence and protocol rankings of top leadership attending any related anniversary events.
- Whether major state media and theoretical journals such as People's Daily and Qiushi publish commemorative editorials assessing Jiang's legacy.
Key Takeaways
- 1China Post issued two commemorative stamps and one souvenir sheet on August 17 to mark the centenary of Jiang Zemin's birth.
- 2The stamp designs portray Jiang in Shanghai, at the 15th National Congress of the CPC, and on the Tiananmen Rostrum.
- 3The stamps carry a combined face value of 2.40 yuan with a 4-million set run, while the souvenir sheet is priced at 6 yuan with 3.2 million copies.
- 4The items are scheduled for a six-month sales period across national post offices and digital platforms.
China Post issued a dedicated set of commemorative stamps on August 17 to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, according to official reports published by Xinhua News Agency and People's Daily.
The commemorative series consists of a set of two stamps and one souvenir sheet, highlighting key moments from Jiang's political career. The first stamp illustrates Jiang during his leadership period in Shanghai, while the second depicts him delivering a report at the 15th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in 1997. The accompanying souvenir sheet portrays Jiang waving to parade crowds from the Tiananmen Rostrum in Beijing.
According to official specifications, the stamp set and souvenir sheet were designed by Xing Wenwei and Yin Xiaofei and printed using the photogravure process by Beijing Stamp Printing Co., Ltd. The two-stamp set carries a combined face value of 2.40 yuan ($0.33), with a planned circulation of 4 million sets. The souvenir sheet carries a face value of 6.00 yuan, with a planned print run of 3.2 million pieces.
The items will be made available to the public across designated China Post branches, official online philatelic portals, and the China Post mobile application for a sales window of six months.
In China's political tradition, milestone anniversaries of former paramount leaders—particularly centenary births—are typically accompanied by standardized commemorative protocols, including high-level symposiums, formal retrospectives in party periodicals, and specialized postal and currency releases that adhere strictly to central party evaluations.
Sources
- 中国邮政发行《纪念江泽民同志诞辰100周年》纪念邮票 --时政--人民网 — People's Daily · 8/18/2026