Li Keqiang

Early life and education

Li was born on 3 July 1955 in Dingyuan County of Hefei, Anhui province. His father was a local official in Anhui. Li graduated from Hefei No. 8 Senior High School in 1974, during the Cultural Revolution, and was sent for rural labour in an agriculture commune in Fengyang County, Anhui. There, he joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1976 and became the party head of the local production team. He was awarded the honor of Outstanding Individual in the Study of Mao Zedong Thought during this time.

Li refused his father's offer of grooming him for the local county's party leadership and entered Peking University Law School in 1978, where he became the president of the university's student council. He studied under Professor Gong Xiangrui, a well-known British-educated expert on Western political systems. Together with his classmates, he translated important legal works from English to Chinese, including Lord Denning's book The Due Process of Law. He received a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1982.

In 1982, Li became the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) Committee Secretary at Peking University. He passed of a chance to study in the United States to stay as the Committee Secretary. He entered the top leadership of the national CYLC in 1983 as an alternate member of CYLC Central Committee's Secretariat, and worked closely with future Party General Secretary Hu Jintao, who also rose through the ranks of the CYLC. He was appointed as a secretary of the CYLC Secretariat in 1985.

In 1988, he returned to Peking University for graduate studies. He studied economics under prominent economist Li Yining, who was his doctoral advisor. He received a Master of Economics and a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics from Peking University in 1995. At the invitation of Li Yining, Li Keqiang's doctoral dissertation review committee was composed of well-known Chinese economists and researchers. Because of the high academic rigor of the committee, Li postponed the defense of his dissertation by six months. Described as being able to "withstand any kind of inspection" by his doctoral advisor, Li's doctoral dissertation, "On the ternary structure of Chinese economy", published in 1991, was awarded the Sun Yefang Prize, China's highest prize in economics, in 1996.

Li became the CYLC's first secretary in 1993 and served in that role until 1998. In 1993, Li proposed the CYLC's Youth Volunteers Operation, which recruits and channels volunteers into educational, social, and environmental projects. It is regarded as an important achievement of his tenure as CYLC first secretary. Li was a representative member of the first generation to have risen from the CYLC leadership. In 1997, he became a full member of the CCP Central Committee.

Provincial tenures

Henan (1998–2004)

Li became the youngest Chinese provincial governor in June 1998 when he was appointed governor of Henan at the age of 43. He also became Henan's Deputy Party Secretary. According to provincial officials working with him at the time, Li refused to participate in any banquets or large fancy events not related to government activities. During his time as governor, a public sense of his "bad luck" grew due to the occurrence of three major fires in the province.

Li was known to be outspoken and led economic development in Henan, transforming the poor inland region into an attractive area for investment. He trekked through all regions of the province trying to search for a comprehensive solution to its growing problems. In December 2002, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party decided to appoint Li to replace Chen Kuiyuan as the Secretary of the Henan Provincial Party Committee, and left his post as governor in 2003. Henan jumped in national GDP rankings from 28th in the early 1990s to 18th in 2004, when Li left Henan. However, his government was relatively ineffective at curbing the HIV/AIDS epidemic that was affecting the rural areas of the province.

Liaoning (2004–2007)

Li was transferred to work as the Party secretary of Liaoning in December 2004. There he was known for the "Five Points and One Line" project, where he linked Dalian, Dandong, and a series of other ports into a comprehensive network to improve trade flow. In January 2005, Li set a goal of tackling the slums in the province within three years, a project which he coordinated with the central government. The campaign led to the removal of more than 12 million square metres of slums in the province by 2007 and gained him popular support. During his leadership in Liaoning, Li designed the "Li Keqiang index", an unconventional economic indicator that aimed to bypass the often unreliable official provincial GDP numbers, which were often artificially inflated, and thus serve as a better indicator of economic health. Instead of gathering data on total economic output alone, he used railway cargo volume, electricity consumption, and total loans disbursed by banks to determine the health of the economy.

Vice premiership (2008–2013)

Li joined the CCP Politburo Standing Committee after the 17th Party Congress held in October 2007 as its 7th-ranking member. He was succeeded in his Liaoning party secretary post by governor Zhang Wenyue. Given his Youth League experience and his association with then paramount leader Hu Jintao, Li was viewed from early on in Hu's term as a contender to succeed Hu when his term as party leader ended in 2012. While Li's political future seemed promising, he was outranked on the Standing Committee by Xi Jinping, who had just left his role as party secretary of Shanghai to join the central leadership ranks in Beijing. This rank order signaled that it would be Xi, not Li, who would eventually succeed Hu as party general secretary and president. In November 2007, Li met with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, his first meeting with a foreign delegation in his new capacity.

At the 1st Session of the 11th National People's Congress, Li was elected as the first-ranking vice premier, reinforcing the speculation that Li would become premier and was being groomed to succeed Premier Wen Jiabao. Li's portfolio as vice premier included economic development, government budgets, land and resources, the environment, and health. He also became the head of central commissions overseeing the Three Gorges Dam and the South–North Water Transfer Project, as well as the leader of steering committees in charge of health care reform, food safety, and AIDS-related work. In addition, Li was the principal lieutenant to premier Wen Jiabao in the broad portfolios of climate change, energy, information technology, northeastern China revitalization, and developing the Chinese far west. He was also put in charge of restructuring the government.

In March 2008, Li gave his first public speech as vice premier. As vice premier, he was instrumental in pushing through an economic stimulus program in 2008, which was intended to help the economy to rebound from the Sichuan earthquake as well as the Great Recession. He appeared at the 2010 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he presented China's long-term vision for development in front of world business and political leaders. In particular, he briefed the WEF on China's commitment to sustainable development, green energy, decreasing the income gap and modernizing key strategic industries. While reiterating China's commitment to peaceful development and its focus in increasing domestic demand despite the external pressures of the 2008 financial crisis, Li also warned against protectionism, saying "opening up can be both bilateral and multilateral... in this sense, one plus one is more often than not bigger than two."

Premiership (2013–2023)

Li was elected as the second-ranking member of the Politburo Standing Committee by the first plenary session of the 18th Central Committee on 15 November 2012, held immediately after the 18th CCP National Congress in the November 2012. As he was expected to become premier, this was a shift from previous convention on the PSC set in 1997 whereby the premier ranked third, after the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, who ranked second. At a panel meeting of the Congress, Li emphasized that China must pursue "four new modernizations", referring to industrialization, information technology application, urbanization, and agricultural modernization. In November 2012, shortly after the Party Congress, Li spoke at a seminar organized by the State Council, where he emphasized reform to achieve a moderately prosperous society by 2020.

Li later met with HIV/AIDS activists 12 non-governmental organizations at the Ministry of Health. In December 2012, Li visited Jiangxi, his first inspection trip since becoming the second-ranking PSC member. On 15 March 2013, the first session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC), Li was nominated by newly elected President Xi Jinping to be the premier. He was subsequently appointed as premier by the NPC, succeeding Wen Jiabao. Of the nearly 3,000 legislators assembled at the Congress, 2,940 voted for him, three against, and six abstained. On 16 March, the NPC appointed Zhang Gaoli, Liu Yandong, Wang Yang, and Ma Kai as vice premiers following their nominations by Li. He gave his first major speech 17 March at the conclusion of the NPC, calling for frugality in government, a fairer distribution of income and continued economic reform. Li focused his attention on China to move towards a consumption based economy instead of relying on export led growth.

On 18 March 2018, Li was reappointed premier after being nominated by President Xi Jinping and receiving 2,964 votes in favour and just two against by the NPC. There has been speculation that Li may have been sidelined by Xi Jinping's consolidation of power, with some calling him the "weakest premier" since the CCP took power in 1949. This has been seen as a "dispute between north and south houses", referring to the State Council (located in the north of Zhongnanhai) and the Party center (located in the Zhonanghai's south).

Domestic policy

In March 2013, Li held his first State Council meeting as premier, where he called on officials to implement government directives. He also announced curbs on off-budget spending to fight corruption. In April 2013, Li said China would continue to increase investment at a "reasonable" pace. In the same month, Li visited Sichuan after the Lushan earthquake, emphasizing the need for quick action. He later also called on officials to decrease the fatality rate of the H7N9 bird flu. In June 2013, Li held the first meeting of the "Global CEO Advisory Council" which included the heads of 14 business leaders. In the same month, Li signaled China's financial system should curb credit expansion. In July 2013, Li was named the head of the Leading Group for Western Region Development of the State Council, the Leading Group for the Revitalization of Old Industrial Bases in Northeast China of the State Council, and the Leading Group for the National Response to Climate Change and Energy Conservation. In August 2013, Li ordered the National Audit Office to audit the debt held by local governments. In September 2013, Li attended a meeting of the World Economic Forum in Dalian, where he said China would pursue financial reform including interest rate and exchange rate liberalization, promoting the yuan's convertibility under the capital account, and easing barriers for newer and smaller actors to enter the financial industry.

Li was critical in the opening of the Shanghai Free-Trade Zone, which opened in September 2013, and fought opposition from the China Banking Regulatory Commission and the China Securities Regulatory Commission. South China Morning Post reported in October 2013 that Li preferred to keep a low-profile to not endanger his reform agenda. In November 2013, Li said China needed an economic growth rate of 7.2 percent to keep employment stable. At the third plenum of the 18th Central Committee held in the fall of 2013, the CCP announced far-reaching economic and social reforms. However, the document outlining the reforms was drafted under the leadership of Xi, Liu Yunshan and Zhang Gaoli, and Li was ostensibly not involved in preparing the document. This departure from convention (Wen was the principal drafter of documents behind the reforms announced at the Third Plenum of 2003) led to speculation that Li was becoming marginalized in the new administration, and that the widely touted "Xi–Li Administration" in fact did not exist, as power was increasingly being centralized under the hands of Xi as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party.Following the third plenum of 2013, Xi amassed a series of leadership roles on four new powerful supra-ministerial bodies overseeing "comprehensively deepening reforms", the internet, military reform, and also the National Security Commission. The "deepening reforms" leading group was said to be encroaching on the affairs in the economic realm normally handled by the premier, and was seen as having the effect of reducing Li's institutional power. Li nevertheless appeared in official press releases as Xi's foremost lieutenant, being named Vice Chairman of the National Security Commission, in addition to becoming the deputy leader of leading groups on "deepening reforms", internet security, and the economy and finance. After the announcement of comprehensive reforms at the third plenum in 2013, Li became a leading figure of the government's reform implementation efforts. The third plenum called for market forces to play a "decisive" role in the allocation of resources, ostensibly looking to decrease government regulation on the market.

Foreign affairs

In April 2013, during a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry, Li said that "Provocations on the Korean Peninsula will harm the interests of all sides". He made his first foreign visit to India on 18 May 2013 in a bid to resolve border disputes and to stimulate economic relations. He said the choice of India as the first international visit highlights Chinese importance in its relations with the country. Li also visited Switzerland and Germany on his first Europe trip, and met with the two countries' leaders. During his visit to Pakistan, Li met with the country's top leadership and expressed his views: "As Pakistan's closest friend and brother, we would like to provide as much assistance as we can for the Pakistani side". In June 2014, while visiting the United Kingdom, Li urged Scotland, which would hold an independence vote later that year, to remain part of the UK. During prime minister Narendra Modi's state visit to China in 2015, Li and Modi took a selfie together at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

United States lieutenant general H. R. McMaster wrote of Li that, "If anyone in the American group had any doubts about China's view of its relationship with the United States, Li's monologue would have removed them. He began with the observation that China, having already developed its industrial and technological base, no longer needed the United States."

Post-premiership (2023)

On 11 March 2022, Li confirmed that he would be stepping down as premier of China upon the expiry of his second term in March 2023. However, there was speculation that he might continue serving as Politburo Standing Committee member in another post, such as the chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, which were ultimately without foundation. During the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in October 2022, Li stepped down from the Central Committee. Li's term officially ended on 11 March 2023, and he was succeeded by Li Qiang, a close ally of Xi. Although it was excluded from the official transcript, his farewell speech included the remark: "While people work, heaven watches. It looks like that heaven has eyes."

After Li stepped down as Premier in March 2023, he visited Mogao Caves in Gansu in August 2023, which was his first public appearance after retirement and last public appearance before his death.

Death

Li died at Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (上海中医药大学附属曙光医院) in Pudong at 00:10 CST on 27 October 2023 at the age of 68 after a heart attack the previous day. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that the heart attack occurred as he swam at Shanghai's Dongjiao State Guest Hotel. The Standard reported that long-term use of anti-rejection drugs following a liver transplant were a contributing factor. SCMP reported that he had also undergone coronary artery bypass surgery.

Li's remains were flown to Beijing on 27 October. On 2 November, a memorial ceremony was held at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery and he was cremated. Attendees of the ceremony included Xi Jinping, his wife Peng Liyuan, Premier Li Qiang, all other members of the 20th Politburo Standing Committee, and Vice President Han Zheng. According to state media, former leader Hu Jintao sent flowers and did not attend. National flags were flown at half-mast at Chinese government buildings, diplomatic missions, and in Hong Kong and Macau.

On 3 July 2025, the Institute of Party History and Literature published an article in the People's Daily marking Li's 70th birth anniversary, saying Li "dedicated all his energy to the cause of the party and the state, and made significant contributions to it" and was an "outstanding member of the party, time-tested loyal communist fighter, outstanding revolutionary and politician, and exemplary leader", calling him "deeply devoted to the people".

Personal life

Li was married to Cheng Hong, a professor in English Language and Literature (especially American Naturalism) at the Capital University of Economics and Business in Beijing. His father-in-law was once the deputy secretary of the Communist Youth League Central Committee. Alongside Mandarin, he also spoke conversational English.

Li was ranked 14th of the 2013 Forbes list of the World's Most Powerful People, after taking the office of Chinese premier.

Political views

Li was generally regarded as advocating economic reform and liberalization. He was described as representing the less ideological and more pragmatic and technocratic side of China's leadership. In August 2022, Li gave a speech in Shenzhen praising Deng Xiaoping and his economic reforms, which was later censored by the Chinese government. Wang Juntao, a Chinese dissident and former colleague of Li during his studies at the Peking University, said that Li was "very interested" in political reform.

Economy

In February 2012, Li wrote an article in Qiushi, Li wrote that too little of China's economy was driven by consumption, and that China should expand the share of middle-income earners by finding ways for low-income people to earn more, including through wage rises, expanding the social security network, business incentives, subsidizing housing and giving more affordable medical care.

Awards and honors

Gold Medal of the Hellenic Parliament (Greece, 2014)

Nishan-e-Pakistan (Pakistan, 2013)

Publications

Li, Yining; Meng, Xiaosu; Li, Yuanchao; Li, Keqiang (December 2018). The Strategic Choice for China's Prosperity. Translated by Shi, Guangjun; Jiang, Hongxing (English ed.). Singapore: South Ocean Publishing House.