Former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji dies aged 97

Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji passed away on Wednesday at the age of 97, after a life dedicated to serving the people and advancing the communist cause. Known for his hard-hitting free market reforms, Zhu helped drive China's extraordinary economic growth. Among his notable policies were the privatization of unprofitable state-owned enterprises, urban housing, and promotion of homeownership.

He led negotiations for China's accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001, consolidating the country's transformation into the world's marketplace. His leadership was instrumental in helping China avoid the worst of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. However, Zhu's market reformism fell out of favor under Xi Jinping's leadership, who has criticized runaway capitalism and moved toward a more balanced development path.

The news of Zhu's death quickly became a trending topic on social media, with tributes pouring in from across the country.