Former Premier Zhu Rongji Dies in Beijing at 98
HK01 · 6 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji died in Beijing at 11:06am on August 12, aged 98, according to an official obituary issued by the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the National People's Congress Standing Committee, the State Council and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Zhu served as vice-premier from 1991 and premier from 1998 to 2003, and his tenure was closely tied to tax, financial and state-sector reforms, China’s entry into the World Trade Organization, and policy responses to the Asian financial crisis.
Key Points
- The official obituary described Zhu as an outstanding party member, communist fighter, statesman and former member of the 14th and 15th Politburo Standing Committee.
- Born in October 1928 in Changsha, Hunan, Zhu studied electrical engineering at Tsinghua University from 1947 to 1951 before entering state planning work.
- His career included being labelled a rightist in 1958, years of grassroots and labour assignments, and political rehabilitation before reform-era promotions.
- He became Shanghai mayor in 1987 and party secretary in 1989, and was credited with advancing industrial restructuring and the launch of Pudong development.
- As vice-premier, central bank governor and later premier, he pushed macroeconomic tightening, tax-sharing reform, financial restructuring, SOE reform and WTO accession.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, Zhu remains one of the mainland leaders most closely identified with explicit support for the city’s financial system during the Asian financial crisis and with repeated public expressions of confidence in Hong Kong’s future.
His remarks defending the linked exchange rate, stressing Hong Kong’s irreplaceable advantages and warning that mishandling the city would make leaders “national sinners” helped shape his enduring image in Hong Kong long after his 2003 retirement.