Former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji, a key architect of China’s economic transformation, has died at the age of 97.
According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, Zhu died of illness in Beijing on Wednesday.
He served as China’s premier from 1998 to 2003, overseeing major economic reforms during a crucial period in the country’s development.
Zhu pushed for the reform of inefficient state-owned enterprises and supported the expansion of private home ownership.
He also played a key role in China’s negotiations to join the World Trade Organization in 2001, helping the country integrate more deeply into the global economy.
His reforms helped accelerate China’s economic growth and contributed to its emergence as a major global trading power.
Zhu was widely known for his forthright and outspoken style, and he remained an influential figure in discussions about China’s economic rise after leaving office.
