The Man Who Built Modern China | Roanoke News

Zhu Rongji, the iron-willed architect of China’s economic miracle, has died at 97 — a titan who bulldozed through state-owned enterprises, cracked down on corruption, and steered China into the WTO, even as his blunt tactics earned him nicknames like “Madman Zhu.” His five-year premiership (1998–2003) unleashed sweeping reforms that turned China into the world’s second-largest economy, despite sparking job losses and political resistance. Without a personal power base, he relied on sheer force of will — famously preparing his own coffin beside those of corrupt officials — to push forward policies that launched China’s homeownership boom and global trade integration. His legacy? A pragmatic, no-nonsense reformer whose tough love reshaped modern China — and whose passing signals the end of an era. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1dea673567c29f19