China bids farewell to economic reformer Zhu Rongji, grapples with his legacy | TheStarTV.com

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China bids farewell to economic reformer Zhu Rongji, grapples with his legacy

Published on 18 Aug 2026 8:25:08 PM

China consigned the body of former Premier Zhu Rongji to the flames in Beijing on Tuesday (Aug 18) and lowered the national flag to mourn the no-nonsense reformer who died last week aged 97, as citizens recalled a bygone era and reflected on his complicated legacy.

Security was tight across the city, particularly around Tiananmen Square and the leaders' enclave of Zhongnanhai, the centre of political power, which lie on the route to the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing.

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news, thestartv, the star, zhu rongji, china, asean plus, funeral, cremation, last rites, respect, tribute, xi jinping, beijing, babaoshan revolutionary cemetery

China consigned the body of former Premier Zhu Rongji to the flames in Beijing on Tuesday (Aug 18) and lowered the national flag to mourn the no-nonsense reformer who died last week aged 97, as citizens recalled a bygone era and reflected on his complicated legacy.

Security was tight across the city, particularly around Tiananmen Square and the leaders' enclave of Zhongnanhai, the centre of political power, which lie on the route to the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing.

WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

Keywords:
news, thestartv, the star, zhu rongji, china, asean plus, funeral, cremation, last rites, respect, tribute, xi jinping, beijing, babaoshan revolutionary cemetery

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