Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Dies at 97

Beijing. Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji died on Wednesday at the age of 97. Zhu, known for his clear and strong expressions, played an important role in advancing China's economy on the path of reform and openness.

In 2011, a four-part collection of his speeches was published, causing quite a stir in China. He strongly criticized negligence and corruption in government work. The collection of his speeches became very popular due to the clear and strong expressions Zhu gave while in power. At that time, Chinese leaders were very careful when speaking in public and mostly used formal and general language.