In Brief
- Zhu Rongji, former Chinese premier, died at 98 after an illness.
- He played a pivotal role in China's economic reforms and WTO entry.
- Built on Deng Xiaoping's 1979 reforms with resourcefulness and tenacity.
- His leadership marked significant history-making changes in China’s global trade policy.
Zhu Rongji, who served as China’s premier from 1998 to 2003, passed away at the age of 98 after suffering from an illness. He is remembered for his instrumental role in transforming China’s economy during a critical period of modernization and international integration.
Building on the foundation laid by former leader Deng Xiaoping in 1979, Zhu provided the resourcefulness and determination needed to implement sweeping reforms. Under his leadership, China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO), marking a major milestone in its engagement with the global economy.
His tenure was characterised by efforts to open up China’s markets and drive economic growth, policies that had a lasting impact on the country’s development trajectory. Zhu’s contributions are seen as vital in shaping modern China’s economic landscape and expanding its presence on the world stage.
