Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang passed away due to a heart attack at the age of 68.

Li Keqiang, who served as the Premier of the State Council of China for ten years, tragically passed away on Friday due to a heart attack. Li Keqiang had previously expressed doubts about the official GDP data released by the Chinese government and preferred to use the "Li Keqiang Index" created by The Economist as a reference for the country's economic growth.

Li Keqiang, who served as China's Premier for ten years, tragically passed away on Friday due to a heart attack. Li Keqiang had previously expressed doubts about China's official GDP data and preferred to use the "Li Keqiang Index" created by The Economist as a reference for the country's economic growth.

As a sharp economist, Li Keqiang believed in utilizing his knowledge and high-frequency indicators such as railway freight volume, electricity consumption, and bank loans to more accurately assess the country's economy. However, his authority to speak was limited during his time in office.

According to a Bloomberg commentary, while traditionally the Premier holds a significant position in the Chinese government system, under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping, there have been changes in this role and power structure. Some of Xi Jinping's close associates and politically connected figures wield far more power in the party and government than their formal rankings suggest. For Xi Jinping, trust is more important than seniority.

In 2022, when Xi Jinping introduced the "zero-COVID" policy, leading to a comprehensive lockdown in Shanghai, Li Keqiang publicly voiced his concerns, urging against excessive pandemic control measures and advocating for economic stability. However, his advice was not heeded. Shortly after, he retired in March last year, and his position was taken over by Li Qiang.