Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Dies At 98, Remembered For WTO Entry

Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, who played a key role in sweeping economic reforms and helped steer China into the World Trade Organisation (WTO), died in Beijing on Wednesday at the age of 98, state media reported. The official Xinhua News Agency said Zhu died at around 11 am after medical treatment for an unspecified illness failed. He is survived by his wife, Lao An, and their two children. Zhu was one of the most influential Chinese economic policymakers of the late 20th century.

During his political career, he became known for pushing reforms aimed at restructuring China's economy and strengthening its integration with global markets. His tenure coincided with a period of rapid economic transformation and China's preparations to join the WTO, which it eventually entered in 2001. Born in Hunan province in October 1928, Zhu studied electrical engineering at Tsinghua University. He joined the Communist Party in 1949 and subsequently worked for China's state planning agency.

His early career was interrupted after he was labelled a “rightist” for criticising the economic policies of Mao Zedong. During the Cultural Revolution, he was sent to work on a farm, where he spent years raising pigs and planting rice. Zhu was rehabilitated in 1978 and gradually returned to government service. His political rise accelerated after he became mayor of Shanghai in 1987. He later became vice premier in 1991 and joined the Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee in 1992. His experience managing Shanghai's economy helped establish his reputation as a forceful administrator and economic reformer.

Also Read: “Thoda Badal Gaye Ho”: Kharge's Unexpected Banter With PM Modi At Wedding Reception

As premier, Zhu was closely associated with efforts to modernise China's economy and reform inefficient state-owned enterprises. He took office during a period when Beijing was seeking to deepen market-oriented reforms while maintaining state control over key sectors. His government also worked to prepare the country for greater participation in international trade and investment. China's accession to the WTO became one of the defining economic developments of Zhu's era. The negotiations required Beijing to undertake significant changes to its trade and economic policies and opened the Chinese economy to greater international competition.

Zhu strongly supported the process, viewing deeper integration with the global economy as an important part of China's economic development. His political career also reflected the dramatic changes China underwent in the decades following Mao's rule. From being criticised as a “rightist” and spending years away from political life, Zhu eventually rose to the country's highest economic policymaking positions. His tenure is widely associated with efforts to strengthen China's economic institutions and accelerate reforms.

Zhu's death marks the passing of a prominent figure from a generation of Chinese leaders who shaped the country's transition into a major global economic power. His role in economic restructuring and China's WTO entry remains a significant part of the country's modern economic history. State media reported his death without disclosing further details about the illness for which he had been receiving treatment.

Also Read: Delhi HC Seeks Clarity From Meta On Copyright Tool Access Rules For Users