China’s former premier Li Keqiang dead at 68
China’s former premier Li Keqiang has died of a sudden heart attack aged 68, state media says.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaking at the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing earlier this year. EPA/XINHUA / Rao Aimin
“Comrade Li Keqiang, while resting in Shanghai in recent days, experienced a sudden heart attack on October 26 and after all-out efforts to revive him failed, died in Shanghai at 10 minutes past midnight on October 27,” state broadcaster CCTV reported.
An obituary will be published later, CCTV added.
The former Chinese premier and head of China’s cabinet served under President Xi Jinping for a decade from 2013, retiring in March.
The elite Peking University-educated economist was once viewed as a top Communist Party leadership contender, but became increasingly sidelined by Xi in recent years.
He memorably said in 2020 that over 600 million people in China earned less than the equivalent of $US140 per month, sparking a wider debate on poverty and income inequality.
