Li Keqiang, the former Chinese premier, died on Friday at age 68 after suffering a heart attack, state media reported. He had stepped down from his post as China’s No. 2 official in March this year.
Li Keqiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of Communist Party of China, passed away in Shanghai. “On October 26, Li had a sudden heart attack and passed away at 00:10 on Oct. 27 after all rescue measures failed,” according to Chinese government statement.
Chinese Foreign Ministry said: “We deeply mourn over the tragic passing of Comrade Li Keqiang due to a sudden heart attack.”
He served as the country’s premier for nearly a decade from 2013 to March this year under Chinese President Xi Jinping’s rule.
Chinese people pay tribute to Li
Li’s sudden death is being mourned online in China, with many expressing shock and grief as the news rapidly gained traction on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The hashtag related to his death on the drew over 1 billion views in a few hours on Weibo.
On Chinese social media, the “like” button turned into a daisy — a common flower for funerals in China. Many users remembered Li’s hard work and contributions to China. However, reports suggest that some comments on posts appear to have been restricted.
As the news of Li’s death broke Friday morning, social media users widely shared a line from Li’s yearly address to China’s parliament in 2022, where he spoke about China becoming more open. “The Yangtze River and the Yellow River will not flow backward,” he said. “China will unswervingly expand its opening up.”
On Friday, many people gathered around his old family home in Jiuzi village, Dingyuan county, and laid cluster of bouquets against the wallsto pay tribute to its most famous resident — Li Keqiang.
Who was Li Keqiang?
Li had a relatively humble upbringing in rural Anhui province. Born in Hefei, Li was involved in the Communist Youth League of China. He had a master’s degree in economics and a doctorate in philosophy in economics from Peking University.
Li Keqiang, served as Henan province governor (1998-2004), as the youngest Chinese provincial governor at 43. He also developed an economic measurement tool called the Li Keqiang index.
In 2015, Li and his Cabinet launched the Made in China 2025 plan, inspired by Germany’s Industry 4.0, to boost Chinese manufacturing, foster innovation, and solidify China’s role in global supply chains.
A decade ago, Li was seen as former Communist Party leader Hu Jintao’s preferred successor as president but lost out to Xi, who took office in 2013.
Last October, Li was unexpectedly dropped from the Standing Committee during a party congress despite being more than two years below the informal retirement age of 70. He stepped down in March 2023 and was succeeded by Li Qiang.
