{
  "id": 1250791,
  "title": "China to fly flags at half-mast for former premier Zhu Rongji’s funeral",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/china-to-fly-flags-at-half-mast-for-former-premier-zhu-rongjis-funeral",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T10:37:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3364189/china-fly-flags-half-mast-former-premier-zhu-rongjis-funeral"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji's funeral will see national flags flown at half-mast across China, including in Hong Kong and Macau, according to state media. Zhu, who led China's transition to a market economy from 1998 to 2003, passed away at age 97 on Wednesday due to illness. Flags will be lowered at Tiananmen Square, provincial government buildings and China's embassies, as well as in Hong Kong at government sites like Admiralty and Government House. The mourning protocol mirrors that of former premier Li Keqiang, who died in 2023. Zhu is credited with overhauling state-owned enterprises and integrating China into the global market in 2001. He will be cremated in Beijing on Tuesday, with President Xi Jinping and other top leaders paying their respects before the cremation, similar to Li Keqiang's funeral in 2023.",
  "summary": "Former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji will be cremated in Beijing on Tuesday. Flags across China, including in Hong Kong and Macau, will be flown at half-mast on that day. Zhu served as premier from 1998 to 2003 and played a key role in China's transition to a market-based economy.\n\nZhu died on Wednesday at the age of 97 due to an illness in Beijing. According to the South China Morning Post, he was known as the \"iron premier\" who laid the groundwork for China's economic transformation. He was also remembered for his sense of humour and his support for Hong Kong during its recovery from the Asian financial crisis.\n\nFlags will be flown at half-staff at various government sites in Hong Kong, including government headquarters and border crossings, as well as at national sites such as Tiananmen Square and the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and at Chinese embassies and consulates.",
  "key_points": [
    "China to lower national flags at half-mast during Zhu Rongji's funeral.",
    "Zhu Rongji led China's market economy transition from 1998 to 2003.",
    "Flags lowered at Tiananmen Square, government buildings, and embassies."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
        "title": "China to fly flags at half-mast for former premier Zhu Rongji’s funeral",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/china-to-fly-flags-at-half-mast-for-former-premier-zhu-rongjis-funeral-1254887",
        "published": "2026-08-16T10:37:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}