Former Premier Li Keqiang, China’s top economic official for a decade, died Friday of a heart attack. As the top economic official, Li promised to improve conditions for entrepreneurs who generate jobs and wealth. But the ruling party under Xi increased the dominance of state industry and tightened control over tech and other industries. Li was born July 1, 1955, in the eastern province of Anhui and by 1976 was ruling party secretary of a commune there. Li's tenure also saw China's economy begin to slow from the dizzying heights experienced in the 1990s and 2000s.

Source: The Standard October 27, 2023 06:50 UTC