China's Xinhua News Agency reported that Mr. Zhu died of a severe illness in Beijing at 11:06 AM today.

Mr. Zhu, who served as China's premier from 1998 to 2003, is remembered for his anti-corruption efforts, his reform of the centrally planned economy, and the restructuring of China's state-owned enterprise sector.

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in 2002. Photo: AFP

Born in 1928 in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, Mr. Zhu graduated from Tsinghua University in 1951 with a degree in electrical engineering. He then joined the state apparatus, working on local and national economic policy.

He served as China's vice premier in charge of the economy from 1991 to 1998 before becoming premier.

“Whether ahead lies a minefield or an abyss, I will not hesitate to clear my own path, dedicating myself wholeheartedly to the people and the nation until my last day,” he stated at his first press conference as premier in 1998.

In the 1990s, facing high inflation, rising debt, and struggling state-owned enterprises that threatened China's financial stability, Mr. Zhu responded by tightening fiscal policy, reducing red tape, and closing or privatizing struggling businesses.

He was also the chief architect of the negotiations that led to China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, opening its market to the world and marking a major turning point for the nation's economy.

Mr. Zhu was regarded as a fierce fighter against corruption. One of the issues that most angered him was "tofu projects", a term for poorly constructed buildings that were so shoddy they could collapse at any moment.

Details regarding Mr. Zhu's funeral have not yet been announced by the Chinese government. “He dedicated his entire life wholeheartedly to serving the people. His passing is a great loss to the Party and the state,” read an obituary published by Xinhua.

Vu Hoang (According to AFP, Reuters, Xinhua, FT)