The evening news broadcast shows an obituary photo of the former Premier Li Keqiang on a giant LED screen in Beijing, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined.
Residents lay flowers outside a residential building where the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spent his childhood in Hefei city, in central China's Anhui province, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined. CHINA OUT Walk In Soaking Tub With Shower
Residents prepare to lay flowers outside a residential building where the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spent his childhood in Hefei city, in central China's Anhui province, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined. CHINA OUT
Residents prepare to lay flowers outside a residential building where the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spent his childhood in Hefei city, in central China's Anhui province, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined.
Residents lay flowers outside a residential building where the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spent his childhood in Hefei city, in central China's Anhui province, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined.
Residents lay flowers outside a residential building where the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spent his childhood in Hefei city, in central China's Anhui province, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined. CHINA OUT
Residents take pictures as they walk by flowers laid outside a residential building where the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spent his childhood in Hefei city, in central China's Anhui province, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined.
Residents walk by flowers laid outside a residential building where the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spent his childhood in Hefei city, in central China's Anhui province, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined.
Residents look at the flowers placed outside a residential building where the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spent his childhood in Hefei city, in central China's Anhui province, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined.
A man is silhouetted near the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined.
FILE - Then Chinese Premier Li Keqiang waves during a press conference after the closing session of the National People's Congress in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on March 15, 2019. Former Premier Li Keqiang, China's top economic official for a decade, died Friday, Oct. 27, 2023 of a heart attack. He was 68.
FILE - Then Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks during a press conference after the closing session of the National People's Congress in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on March 15, 2019. Former Premier Li Keqiang, China's top economic official for a decade, died Friday, Oct. 27, 2023 of a heart attack. He was 68.
FILE - Then Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attends a signing ceremony with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on April 14, 2016. Former Premier Li Keqiang, China’s top economic official for a decade, died Friday, Oct. 27, 2023 of a heart. He was 68.
FILE - Newly elected Chinese Premier Li Qiang, at left, walks past as Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, shakes hands with former Premier Li Keqiang, at left during a session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Saturday, March 11, 2023. Former Premier Li Keqiang, China’s top economic official for a decade, died Friday, Oct. 27, 2023 of a heart attack in Shanghai, state media CCTV reported. He was 68.
The evening news broadcast shows an obituary photo of the former Premier Li Keqiang on a giant LED screen in Beijing, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined.
Residents lay flowers outside a residential building where the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spent his childhood in Hefei city, in central China's Anhui province, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined. CHINA OUT
Residents prepare to lay flowers outside a residential building where the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spent his childhood in Hefei city, in central China's Anhui province, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined. CHINA OUT
Residents prepare to lay flowers outside a residential building where the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spent his childhood in Hefei city, in central China's Anhui province, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined.
Residents lay flowers outside a residential building where the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spent his childhood in Hefei city, in central China's Anhui province, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined.
Residents lay flowers outside a residential building where the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spent his childhood in Hefei city, in central China's Anhui province, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined. CHINA OUT
Residents take pictures as they walk by flowers laid outside a residential building where the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spent his childhood in Hefei city, in central China's Anhui province, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined.
Residents walk by flowers laid outside a residential building where the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spent his childhood in Hefei city, in central China's Anhui province, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined.
Residents look at the flowers placed outside a residential building where the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spent his childhood in Hefei city, in central China's Anhui province, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined.
A man is silhouetted near the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. The sudden death of China's former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, has shocked many people in the country, with tributes offered up to the ex-official who promised market-oriented reforms but was politically sidelined.
FILE - Then Chinese Premier Li Keqiang waves during a press conference after the closing session of the National People's Congress in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on March 15, 2019. Former Premier Li Keqiang, China's top economic official for a decade, died Friday, Oct. 27, 2023 of a heart attack. He was 68.
FILE - Then Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks during a press conference after the closing session of the National People's Congress in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on March 15, 2019. Former Premier Li Keqiang, China's top economic official for a decade, died Friday, Oct. 27, 2023 of a heart attack. He was 68.
FILE - Then Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attends a signing ceremony with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on April 14, 2016. Former Premier Li Keqiang, China’s top economic official for a decade, died Friday, Oct. 27, 2023 of a heart. He was 68.
FILE - Newly elected Chinese Premier Li Qiang, at left, walks past as Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, shakes hands with former Premier Li Keqiang, at left during a session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Saturday, March 11, 2023. Former Premier Li Keqiang, China’s top economic official for a decade, died Friday, Oct. 27, 2023 of a heart attack in Shanghai, state media CCTV reported. He was 68.
BEIJING (AP) — The remains of former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang are to be cremated on Thursday, with flags around the country to be flown at half-staff to mourn the official who helped guide the world’s second-largest economy for a decade.
Li died Friday of a heart attack at 68. Mourners gathered at his childhood home in the city of Hefei in an apparently spontaneous outpouring of grief seen by some as a rebuke of state leader and head of the ruling Communist Party Xi Jinping.
Li was once seen as a potential top leader, but the trained economist was shunted aside in a leadership shakeup last year and replaced with Xi loyalist Li Qiang. Even before then, Xi had consolidated power and sidelined potential rivals with an anti-corruption campaign and by altering the constitution to allow himself to rule indefinitely.
Xi has also thoroughly reshuffled economic and financial leadership positions and set up an entity called the Central Financial Commission in moves that are seen as shifting power from other regulators such as the China Securities Regulatory Commission.
The death of the English-speaking Li who represented a generation of politicians schooled during a time of greater openness to liberal Western ideas, was seen by many observers to symbolize the shift toward stronger party controls.
Although he was the Communist Party's second-ranking official, Li received far less attention from state media outlets than Xi. The two men never formed the sort of partnership that characterized the relationship between previous presidents and premiers.
Li was “extolled as an excellent (Communist Party) member, a time-tested and loyal communist soldier and an outstanding proletarian revolutionist, statesman and leader of the Party and the state,” the official Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday. Flags will be lowered at government offices, including in the semi-autonomous cities of Hong Kong and Macao and at Chinese consulates and embassies around the world, Xinhua said.
Find more of AP's Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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