World · 12 August 2026

China's former premier Zhu Rongji, who helped turn China into a powerhouse, dies at 97

Photo: World Economic Forum from Cologny, Switzerland. The picture was taken from File:Zhu Rongji - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 1986 (Eu… (CC BY SA 2.0)

Zhu Rongji, known as China's "economic czar," died on Wednesday morning in Beijing after leading the country's economic policy for over a decade. He led China as premier from 1998 to 2003, guiding its economy from central planning towards a market-oriented system. His reforms included a major overhaul of the tax system and joining the World Trade Organization in 2001, which led to significant growth.

By BriefTea Editorial · 12 August 2026 at 14:48

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