Li Keqiang

About Li Keqiang

Li Keqiang (Chinese: 李克强; pinyin: Lǐ Kèqiáng; 3 July 1955 – 27 October 2023) was a Chinese politician and economist who served as Premier of China from 2013 to 2023 and was the second-ranking member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s Politburo Standing Committee from 2012 to 2022. Born in Hefei, Anhui province, Li rose through the ranks in the Communist Youth League of China, serving as its first secretary from 1993 to 1998. From 1998 to 2004, he served in Henan, including as governor and later as party secretary of the province. From 2004 to 2007 he served as the party secretary of Liaoning. From 2008 to 2013, Li served as the first-ranked vice premier overseeing economy, under then-premier Wen Jiabao. Initially seen as a candidate for the paramount leader, Li instead assumed the post of premier in 2013. During his tenure, he promoted a shift in China's economic priorities from export-led growth toward domestic consumption. He played a key role in the establishment of the Shanghai Free-Trade Zone in 2013 and championed the policy of mass entrepreneurship and innovation.