Chinese President Xi Jinping led the Chinese Communist Party elite in a final tribute to former Premier Zhu Rongji, who was cremated on Tuesday in Beijing. The ceremony followed a period of mourning during which national flags were lowered to half-mast across the country. Zhu, who died last Wednesday at the age of 97, served as China’s premier from 1998 to 2003.

Zhu is widely recognized for his role as a primary architect of China's economic transformation. During his tenure, he was instrumental in steering the country toward a market-based economy and navigating the complex negotiations required for China’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO). His policies during this period are credited with integrating China into the global trading system and fostering significant domestic economic growth.

The event served as a formal acknowledgment of Zhu's legacy within the party hierarchy. While the state-led coverage focused on the unity of the party leadership in honoring the late official, the transition he oversaw remains a defining chapter in modern Chinese history. No major disagreements regarding the facts of the ceremony or the timeline of Zhu's career were reported among available sources.