Former Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, 68, died early on Friday after suffering a sudden heart attack in Shanghai, state news agency reported.
The former premier suffered a heart attack late on Thursday and died at 12:10 a.m. on Friday (16:10 GMT Thursday) after attempts to resuscitate him failed.
Mr Li had stepped down as premier in March after 10 years in office under Chinese President Xi Jinping.
He was born on 1 July 1955 in Dingyuan, in the eastern province of Anhui.
In 1974, during the Cultural Revolution, he was forced to go to the countryside like other intellectuals.
READ ALSO: Gaza Strip enters full lockdown for two days as COVID-19 cases rise
As one of only three per cent of all applicants who managed to gain admission, he studied law at Peking University and earned a doctorate in economics.
Messrs Xi and Li were the favourites to succeed then-president and Chinese Communist Party leader Hu Jintao, but Mr Xi prevailed and Mr Li, considered a Hu protégé, had to settle for the post of prime minister.
Mr Li was effectively sidelined by Mr Xi, and eventually replaced by Li Qiang in March.
There had been rumours about Mr Li’s health for years.
During his visits abroad, long rest breaks always had to be built into his schedule, diplomats reported in confidential conversations.
(dpa/NAN)
Support PREMIUM TIMES’ journalism of integrity and credibility
Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.
Donate
TEXT AD: Call Willie – +2348098788999
