The Passing of Li Keqiang: Remembering a Prominent Figure

Li Keqiang, the former premier of China, passed away at the age of 68 from a sudden heart attack while on vacation in Shanghai. Despite being sidelined by President Xi Jinping, Li was known for his popular leadership and pragmatic economic policies. He was the only incumbent top official who was not a loyalist to President Xi, and even appeared in public without a mask before China lifted its zero-Covid policy. Li rose through the ranks of the Chinese Communist Party and eventually became premier in 2013. He focused on reducing the wealth gap and providing affordable housing, and had a reputation for working for the less privileged. Li came from a modest background and witnessed the Cultural Revolution as a teenager. He studied law and economics at Peking University and ultimately earned a PhD in economics. Li spent his early political career in the Chinese Communist Youth League and worked under Hu Jintao. He later became the youngest provincial governor in China in Henan and oversaw significant economic growth. Li's successes won him a position on the Politburo Standing Committee and he was appointed as vice-premier. However, he lost out to President Xi in the race to succeed Hu. As premier, Li implemented structural reforms and debt reduction policies, but his economic leadership was weakened by President Xi's consolidation of power. Li was re-elected as premier for a second term but economic management was entrusted to Vice Premier Liu He. Li retired from the top leadership of the party in 2022. He had a personal life that included marriage to Cheng Hong, a professor, and they have a daughter.