On June 23 and 24, 1989, the Fourth Plenary Session of the Thirteenth Party Central Committee was held in Beijing. During the session, the Party emphasized the importance of carrying out the basic line of “one focus, two basic points”, and a series of other principles and policies adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Party Central Committee.

In view that Zhao Ziyang had made the mistake of supporting the turmoil and splitting the Party, the Plenum decided to remove him from the position of general secretary of the Party Central Committee and his other posts. The session elected Jiang Zemin general secretary of the Party Central Committee. Shown here is Jiang Zemin speaking at the closing session of the plenum.