Abstract: A water-solubilized resin composition for forming a thermally stable polyimide polymer prepared by mixing(I) a nitrogenous base salt of a polyimide precursor containing an amino group at both terminals of the molecule and having a residual acid value ratio of about 50 to about 5% obtained by reacting 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid and a molar excess of a diamine in water, or in a water-soluble solvent or in the presence of both a water-soluble solvent and water with(II) a nitrogenous base salt of a 3,3',4,4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid diester whose ester linkage is positioned at either one of the adjoining two carboxyl groups in the same benzene nucleus thereof.