Former Chairman Jiang Zemin's graceful resignation from the Communist Party of China's Central Military Commission on Sunday determined he would be remembered with respect, in this country and beyond.

From both the lasting standing ovation he received from participants of the Fourth Plenum of the Party's 16th Central Committee, and tributes from his successor, Hu Jintao, the appreciation and gratitude were obvious.

Jiang's resignation was not only a respectable finale for his personal political career, but also a perfect finishing touch to what has been the smoothest leadership transition in modern China.

In his letter of resignation, Jiang told the Party Central Committee he had decided to retire from Party and government positions hoping to "institutionalize, standardize, and proceduralize" generational transfers of power for State and Party leadership.

Following late leader Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin has set another admirable personal example, and the task to present a workable institutional framework has now fallen on the shoulders of the current top leaders.

The chances are the new-generation leadership will live up to the high expectations.

As Jiang recognized in his farewell address to Party plenum participants, Hu and his comrades have proved they are fully qualified to take over the helm.

In their first two years in office, the fourth-generation leaders demonstrated impressive competence in the face of the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) epidemic, vicissitudes in international relations, as well as domestic economic and social problems.

Most important of all, Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have charmed the nation with a refreshing people-first work style. Their populist approach will turn out to be a precious political asset for the new leadership.

Hu Jintao's assumption of the Party's military commandership at the just-finished Party plenum has strengthened his status as the core of a new-generation leadership.

The consensus at the Party's decision-making level, as evident throughout the plenum's communique, is no less significant.

The apparently high-sounding text, focusing on improving the Party's capabilities for good governance under new conditions, touched upon various topics and familiar guiding principles over issues from economic strategies to Party-building.

Such congruence between the old and new generation leadership is essential. It dispelled misgivings about possible policy reversals which are common at leadership changes.

In this sense, Hu Jintao and his colleagues have inherited from their predecessors an ideal platform, from where they can fly higher.

Source: China Daily