Key facts
- China has reportedly censored public mourning for former Premier Zhu Rongji.
- Flags were lowered and security was tightened during the mourning period.
- Online discussions about Zhu Rongji are being censored.
- The government is keeping the funeral low-key.
- President Xi Jinping led the party elite in a final farewell.
- Zhu Rongji is credited with driving China's economic overhaul and WTO accession.
China has reportedly implemented measures to control public mourning for former Premier Zhu Rongji, including censoring online discussions and maintaining a low-key funeral. This approach appears aimed at preventing public grief from evolving into criticism of the current government. Flags were lowered and security was heightened during the mourning period. President Xi Jinping led the party elite in a final farewell for the former premier, whose legacy is tied to economic reforms and WTO accession, though also associated with job losses and mixed public reactions. The funeral followed tributes to former President Jiang Zemin, who would have turned 100. For many Chinese, the optimism of Zhu Rongji's era of growth has since faded.