courtesy: CNN
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Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who was once regarded as a reform-minded contender to the country’s top leadership role, died of a sudden heart attack during the early hours on Friday in Shanghai, as reported by state media.
The 68-year-old was nominally China’s No. 2 leader until late last year, served as the country’s premier – traditionally in charge of the economy – from 2013 to March 2023 under strong leadership of Xi Jinping.
During his time in the role, Li navigated the world’s second largest economy through the challenging period of rising technology and trade tensions with the United States, mounting government debt and unemployment, and the COVID-19 pandemic.