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Li Keqiang: former premier who gave scientific research ‘rock-star status in China’

  • ‘Grievously saddened’ science community recalls trained economist Li Keqiang’s unwavering support for basic research as a driver of national growth
  • Li, 68, died early on Friday following a heart attack, seven months after stepping down from political stage

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Then premier Li Keqiang on a visit to Tsinghua University in 2016. Photo: Handout
Holly ChikandDannie Peng
The sudden, shocking death of former Chinese premier Li Keqiang has robbed the country of a genial, skilled technocrat, but his support for scientific research will continue to inspire generations.
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While best known for steering the world’s second-largest economy for a decade, Li had also been an advocate throughout for basic research and scientific development to support national growth.

Li died early on Friday following a heart attack, seven months after stepping down from the political stage. He was 68.

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‘People’s Premier’: former Chinese premier Li Keqiang dies of a heart attack at age 68

‘People’s Premier’: former Chinese premier Li Keqiang dies of a heart attack at age 68
In late February, weeks before his retirement, Li discussed the importance of basic research with world-renowned Chinese mathematician Yau Shing-Tung, who retired from Harvard last year to teach full-time at Tsinghua University, with an aim of helping China to become a maths powerhouse within a decade.

Li believed that innovation and development of science and technology required fundamental support from basic science, the foundation of which is mathematics, which he called the crown of natural science, according to reports from state news agency Xinhua.

He also called on researchers to stay devoted, achieve scientific breakthroughs with their imagination and creativity, and strengthen international cooperation.

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Li’s support for the scientific community dated back to his time as vice-premier, from 2008 to 2013.

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