politics
Zhu Rongji obituary
Premier of the People's Republic of China regarded as an economic reformer who declared that the country had become ‘the factory of the world’
TL;DR
- Zhu Rongji served as the fifth premier of the People's Republic of China and was a key economic reformer.
- He implemented significant reforms to the state-owned sector and modernized infrastructure, leading to China becoming 'the factory of the world'.
- A major achievement was securing China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001.
- Known for his forceful personality, Zhu Rongji was also known for his strong stance against corruption.
- His reforms, while successful, led to substantial layoffs of up to 60 million workers from the state sector.
- Zhu Rongji was criticized for his role in the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacres, despite Shanghai largely avoiding turbulence.
- He was committed to the Communist Party and its rule, focusing on economic stability and growth rather than political reform.
- Zhu Rongji retired in 2003 and largely remained out of public life.
- He faced political challenges earlier in his career, being branded a 'rightist' and sent to the countryside.
- He was survived by his wife, Lao An, a son, and a daughter.