Former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji has passed away at the age of 97, as reported by state media. According to the official Xinhua news agency, Zhu died in Beijing due to illness around 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Known for his impatience and sharp-tongued approach, Zhu played a crucial role in propelling China’s economic growth by implementing significant reforms in the 1990s, including leading the nation into the World Trade Organization.
Despite facing challenges earlier in his career, including being sent to rural areas for supporting reforms in other communist nations, Zhu spearheaded a series of reforms during his tenure as premier from 1998 to 2003. He faced opposition from Communist Party traditionalists and state-owned enterprise leaders while advocating for efficiency and profitability within state-owned companies, resulting in significant layoffs but ultimately contributing to China surpassing Japan as the world’s second-largest economy after the United States in 2010.
Building upon Deng Xiaoping’s reforms in 1979, Zhu is credited with driving transformative changes such as China’s WTO accession, which played a pivotal role in establishing China as a global export powerhouse. These reforms helped sustain economic growth above eight percent annually from 2000 to 2010, reaching a peak of 14.2 percent in 2007.
During his time as premier, Zhu earned a reputation for his no-nonsense approach, earning nicknames like “Boss” and “Madman Zhu.” He was known for his willingness to take responsibility for government shortcomings, once famously stating, “I have prepared 100 coffins here—99 for corrupt officials and one for myself.”
Zhu’s legacy includes kickstarting China’s surge in homeownership through a program launched in 1998 to sell apartments owned by state enterprises, leading to a significant shift towards private ownership in urban housing. Despite advocating for market-oriented reforms in sectors like banking and airlines, Zhu remained committed to government ownership of key industries.
Born in 1928 in Hunan province, Zhu’s career experienced a setback when he was labeled a “rightist” in 1957 for his views on reforms, leading to a lengthy period of political exile during the Cultural Revolution. However, he made a comeback in 1979 and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a key figure in China’s economic and political landscape.
Zhu’s tenure was marked by his willingness to admit mistakes and take responsibility for government failures, a stark departure from traditional Chinese leadership practices. He injected humor into the party’s image by cracking jokes in public and was known for his candid and self-deprecating remarks.
One of Zhu’s notable achievements was the design of a tax system that required local officials to contribute more revenue to the central government, a move he humorously suggested deserved a Nobel Prize in economics. Zhu’s legacy as a reformer and economic architect continues to shape China’s trajectory on the global stage.