BEIJING: Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang passed away from a heart attack on Friday, just ten months post his retirement following a decade in office.
Once considered a leading contender in the Communist Party leadership, Li witnessed a decline in his reformist influence in recent years.
Despite being a distinguished economist advocating for a more open market economy through supply-side reforms with his “Likonomics” approach, it was never fully implemented.
After being marginalized, Li stepped down from all political positions in March. His demise has stirred grief and shock on Chinese social media, marking the conclusion of an era for China’s liberal economic reform.