BEIJING, Jan 19: Ex-Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has insisted on his innocence and integrity over media disclosure that his extended family accumulated USD 2.7 billion worth of assets during his decade-long tenure, a columnist said today.
In a letter to Hong Kong-based columnist Ng Hong-mun, Wen said, “I have never been involved and would not get involved in one single deal of abusing my power for personal gain because no such gains whatsoever could shake my convictions.”
Wen, who retired last year in an once-in-a-decade long leadership change of the Communist Party of China, wrote, “I want to walk the last journey in this world well. I came to this world with bare hands and I want to leave this world clean.”
Wen was succeeded by Li Keqiang as premier.
Ng, a former deputy to the National People’s Congress, is a columnist with the Hong Kong-based Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao. Wen’s hand written letter was sent to Ng on December 27, the South China Morning Post reported.
The 71-year-old former premier came under a cloud after The New York Times reported in October 2012 during the fag end of his carrier that his family and a web of relatives accumulated USD 2.7 billion of hidden assets during his tenure.
Before stepping down as premier, Wen reportedly denied the allegations at a party leadership meet and even called for a probe. It is not clear whether the leadership headed by Xi Jinping is investigating the allegations.
The NYT said its report which won the Pulitzer Prize is an outcome of careful scrutiny of a host of documents of asserts of Wen’s family, specially his geologist wife Zhang Beili, who ran a successful diamond business prospering during his decade long tenure.
His family which initially threatened New York Times with a legal suite in Hong Kong did not pursue it.
Media reports last year said before his retirement, Wen reportedly regretted at a inner party meeting for not stopping his children from doing business, which led to the allegations.
“Failing to persuade my children not to do business (in China) is a significant mistake of mine,” Wen reportedly said. “It’s my biggest regret in life.”
The Chinese Foreign Ministry dismissed the NYT story as smear campaign with ulterior motives. (AGENCIES)
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