China's Former Premier Zhu Rongji Dies at 97

Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, one of the country's leading figures in economic reform, died Wednesday in Beijing after an illness. He was 97.

He served as premier from 1998 to 2003 under President Jiang Zemin, pushing for sweeping changes in state-owned enterprises and demanding greater efficiency and profitability from them. The reforms led to millions of layoffs but also contributed to rapid economic growth.

He played a significant role in China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, helping the country become the world's largest exporter. In 1998, he also supported the sale of apartments owned by state-owned enterprises, sparking the boom in private home ownership.

Zhu was known for his tough stance against corruption and inefficiency. In the 1950s, he was labeled a rightist for supporting reforms in Hungary and Yugoslavia, and later, during the Cultural Revolution, he was sent to the countryside to perform manual labor. He was rehabilitated in 1979.

(AP, BAK)