Chinese Former Premier Li Keqiang Passes Away at 68, Leaving Behind a Legacy of Reform

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BEIJING, Oct 27 (Reuters) – In a shocking turn of events, Chinese former Premier Li Keqiang passed away at the age of 68 due to a sudden heart attack. Li’s death comes just seven months after retiring from his ten-year tenure in office. Known for his reformist ideology, Li’s star had dimmed in recent years as President Xi Jinping tightened his grip on power. Despite his efforts to advocate for supply-side reforms and a more open market economy in a movement called “Likonomics,” Li had to conform to Xi’s preference for state control.

Li’s sudden demise was announced by state broadcaster CCTV, revealing that he suffered a heart attack on October 26 while resting in Shanghai. Despite all attempts to revive him, Li passed away at ten minutes past midnight on October 27. The news of his death has sent shockwaves through Chinese society, with an outpouring of grief and mourning on social media platforms.

Li’s passing marks the end of an era for China, as he was seen as a beacon of liberal economic reform. Chinese intellectuals and members of the liberal elite expressed their dismay at the loss of a leader who championed a freer market and fought for the rights of the underprivileged. Li will be remembered for his dedication to economic reform, although many believe that his potential was never fully realized due to the constraints imposed by Xi’s leadership.

Despite the challenges he faced, Li continued to advocate for reform and opening up. In a speech at a statue of Deng Xiaoping in 2022, Li pledged to carry on the legacy of transformational economic reform, stating that the Yangtze and Yellow River would not reverse course. This speech gained widespread attention before it was censored on Chinese social media platforms.

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Li Keqiang, the former Premier of China, tragically passed away at the age of 68 due to an unexpected heart attack. This surprising development comes just months after his retirement from a decade-long tenure in office, during which his once-prominent status as a reformist figure had faded. The decline of Li’s influence can be attributed to President Xi Jinping’s tightening control over the country’s political landscape, steering it towards a more statist direction.

A renowned economist, Li had championed a more open market economy and proposed supply-side reforms under the moniker “Likonomics.” However, his vision was never fully implemented as President Xi’s preference for state control grew stronger. As a result, Li’s power and influence gradually declined, as Xi filled key positions with his own supporters.

The official announcement of Li’s passing by state broadcaster CCTV revealed that he had suffered a heart attack while resting in Shanghai. Despite efforts to revive him, Li succumbed to his condition in the early hours of October 27. The news of his death spread rapidly on Chinese social media platforms, eliciting a wave of grief and shock.

Li’s legacy as a champion of economic reform and advocate for the underprivileged will be remembered by many. Intellectuals and members of the liberal elite mourned the loss of a leader who represented the ideals of a freer market and fought against income inequality. However, some expressed their disappointment, believing that Li was unable to fully realize his potential due to the constraints imposed by President Xi.

Li’s commitment to reform and opening up was evident in a speech during his visit to a Deng Xiaoping statue in 2022. In this address, he boldly proclaimed that reform and opening up would never cease, and the Yangtze and Yellow River would remain on their course. This speech gained significant attention before being subjected to censorship on Chinese social media platforms.

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Laurie Chen is a China Correspondent at Reuters’ Beijing bureau, covering politics and general news. Before joining Reuters, she reported on China for six years at Agence France-Presse and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. She speaks fluent Mandarin.

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