在中共18大即将召开的时刻，前国务院总理朱鎔基，日前在国务院高官的陪同下，会见了北京〝清华经济管理学院--顾问委员会〞的中外委员。他是在前全国政协主席李瑞环和前国务院副总理吴仪在北京亮相后，另一位露面的重量级中共元老。外界指出，对比朱鎔基和江泽民的亮相，更凸显江派的衰败。
10月29号，〝北京清华大学经济管理学院〞网站刊出消息说，朱鎔基以学院顾问委员会名誉主席的身份，于10月24号下午，在〝钓鱼台国宾馆〞会见参加会议的中外委员。
参加会见的还包括大陆现任国务院副总理、清华经管学院顾问委员会名誉委员王岐山、国务委员刘延东、国务委员兼国务院秘书长、学院顾问委员会委员马凯等。
在〝清华〞网站报导朱鎔基亮相的消息后，《新浪》、《腾讯》和《央视》网等大陆各门户网站立即转载，并在首页高调刊登。
美国〝乔治梅森大学〞客座教授章天亮：〝朱鎔基下台的时候曾经讲过一句话，他说希望你们把我忘掉。最近在18大召开之前，朱鎔基这种露面非常不寻常，特别是他露面的地点是钓鱼台，所以说朱鎔基选择的这个时间和露面的地点都很敏感，这个跟18大召开是有关的。〞
朱鎔基的露面，不仅由〝政治局常委的有力人选〞----王岐山和刘延东陪伴，还有一大批在位高官，像中国人民银行行长周小川、教育部部长袁贵仁、证监会主席郭树清、国家开发银行董事长陈元、中投公司董事长楼继伟、中信集团董事长常振明等。
在此之前，中共前总书记江泽民在北京也被披露，接见了上海市〝海洋大学〞校领导，但江泽民少了官员的陪同，接见场合也显寒酸。对比朱鎔基的亮相，外界指出，简直是天壤之别。 分析认为，这进一步凸显江派阵营的山穷水尽。
时政评论家陈破空：〝朱鎔基出来亮相，那肯定是为他所中意的人站台。因为鉴于朱鎔基,跟江泽民长期不合，在经济路线有纷争、政治路线也是对立，因此，朱鎔基出场，那肯定是对倒薄派或者是改革派的一个加分，对江派、保守派、挺薄派的一个遏制。〞
时政评论家陈破空还指出，中共18大还有几天就召开了，也就是到了摊牌决斗的阶段，不到最后一刻，政治局常委和委员的人选都可能有极大的变数，所以一些元老相继露面，为自己中意的人站台不奇怪。
旅美中国民主人士沈源认为，朱鎔基由于受到江泽民的打压而不能作为。他现在亮相，有为胡温站台的意思。
旅美中国民主人士沈源：〝朱鎔基本身来讲，从他一个右派的经历，和他上任总理的时候那些言论，和他对法轮功的态度，跟江泽民是不一致的。从这几个方面，他过去的一些行为、言论，对中国的现政相信他是不满意的。〞
沈源还指出，将来习近平只有〝去毛〞，并且清除江派和左派势力之后，中国政治才能有初步的变化。
朱鎔基因1957年的〝反右斗争〞当了二十年右派，在当总理时，因受江泽民打压而心灰意冷。当年，因多名〝江系〞核心卷入〝远华案〞，朱鎔基想严查，最后受阻于江泽民。江还以〝受贿罪〞拘捕了朱鎔基的亲信----〝中信集团〞董事长朱小华，而江的6名爱将获得高升，贾庆林还在十六大上顺利晋身为政治局常委，而朱小华更被判监15年。
面对得力人手纷纷中箭落马，朱鎔基无能为力，曾感叹〝报国有心，回天无力〞。
采访/易如 编辑/宋风 后制/薛莉[page]Zhu Rongji Appears in Public to Support Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao.
The 18th Party Congress of the Chinese Communist
Party (CCP) will take place in a few days.
Former Premier Zhu Rongji, accompanied by CCP
senior officials, has recently appeared in Beijing.
Zhu Rongji is another CCP veteran heavyweight that
has appeared in public after Li Ruihuan and Wu Yi.
Political observers say that the resurfacing
of Zhu Rongji is in sharp contrast to Jiang Zemin.
This highlights that Jiang Zemin forces are fading.
On October 29, the official website of Tsinghua
University School of Economics and Management,
released news about Zhu Rongji's reappearance.
Zhu Rongji, honorary president of the School Advisory
Council, met with council member attendees on October 24.
Other CCP senior officials present included Wang Qishan,
current CCP Vice Premier, State Councilor Liu Yandong,
and secretary general of the State Council Ma Kai.
The news of Zhu Rongji was swiftly reproduced by China's
major portal websites, published in eye-catching positions.
Zhang Tianliang, visiting professor of George Mason
University: "When he stepped down, Zhu Rongji said that he hoped the public would forget him.
Now on the eve of the 18th Party Congress,
Zhu Rongji's appearance is very unusual.
In particular, the venue was Diaoyutai State Guest House.
The timing and the venue are very sensitive,
Which I believe is linked to the 18th Party Congress."
Zhu Rongji was accompanied
by Wang Qishan and Liu Yandong.
Wang and Liu are deemed strong candidates to become
members of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee.
In addition, besides Zhu Rongji, was
a group of incumbent CCP senior officials.
They include the Governor of the People's Bank of China
Zhou Xiaochuan, Education Minister Yuan Guiren.
It also included Guo Shuqing, Chairman of Chinese
Securities Regulatory Commission and Chen Yuan, President of the National Development Bank.
Present was also Lou Jiwei, President
of China Investment Corporation, and Chang Zhenming, President of CITIC Group.
Earlier on, former CCP General Secretary
Jiang Zemin, reportedly appeared in Beijing.
Jiang met with Shanghai Ocean University
leaders, but was not accompanied by officials.
The meeting took place at a makeshift venue.
Observers comment that this formed a sharp
contrast to Zhu Rongji's appearance.
This shows that Jiang's faction is fading.
Critic Chen Pokong: "Zhu Rongji appeared
to stand up for his ideal leadership candidates.
Zhu Rongji has feuded with Jiang Zemin, holding
opposite views on economic and political policies.
So, his appearance aimed to support anti-Bo Xilai
faction, or the liberal faction within the CCP.
It's a curb on Jiang's clique, conservative
forces and on the pro-Bo faction.”
Chen Pokong remarks that as the CCP18th Congress
will be held soon, it's time for a showdown.
The list of members for the Politburo and its Standing
Committee will not be finalized until the last minute.
That is why CCP veterans have successively appeared
in public, to support their ideal leadership candidates.
Shen Yuan, a democrat in the U.S., comments that
Zhu Rongji was struck out during his tenure by Jiang Zemin.
Now his appearance implies that he stands
alongside for Hu-Wen, says Shen.
Shen Yuan: “Zhu Rongji spent years in disgrace
for being labeled a rightist by the CCP.
As Premier, his views on governance and on
Falun Gong were different from Jiang Zemin's.
In view of these aspects, I believe he is not
satisfied with China's present course.”
Shen Yuan thinks that Xi Jinping, after
taking office, should purge Jiang's faction, and any remaining left-wing Maoist forces.
Only by doing this, China's politics can
see an initial change, Shen Yuan remarks.
Zhu Rongji has been labeled a rightist for 20 years
since the CCP “Anti-Rightist Movement” in 1957.
During tenure as Premier, Zhu Rongji
was restrained by Jiang Zemin.
Zhu intended to strictly deal with
the Yuanhua smuggling case.
This involved many core members of Jiang's faction.
However, the investigation was
finally blocked by Jiang Zemin.
Jiang even arrested Zhu Rongji's right-hand man,
Zhu Xiaohua, then-president of CITIC Group.
Zhu Xiaohua was accused of “taking bribes,”
while Jiang's six cronies got promoted.
One of them was Jia Qinglin, who entered CCP Politburo
Standing Committee at the 16th Party Congress in 2002.
Zhu Xiaohua was sentenced to 15 years in jail.
Zhu Rongji saw his right-hand men being removed.
Reportedly, he sighed, "I'm determined to serve
the country, but powerless to reverse the situation.”