Key facts
- Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji has died at age 97.
- Zhu Rongji was a key architect of China's economic reforms.
- Zhu Rongji oversaw China's entry into the World Trade Organization.
- Zhu Rongji was known for his blunt criticism and pragmatic approach.
- China is preparing to mark the 100th anniversary of Jiang Zemin's birth.
- The commemoration for Jiang Zemin will include full honors.
- The event signals the Communist Party's continued respect for Jiang Zemin.
- The commemoration underscores the party's efforts to maintain historical continuity and legitimacy.
Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, a significant architect of China's economic reforms and its entry into the World Trade Organization, has passed away at the age of 97. Zhu was widely known for his pragmatic and often blunt style of leadership, which was instrumental in implementing major changes that reshaped China's economy and established it as a global trading powerhouse. His tenure saw transformative policies that significantly altered the nation's economic landscape.