China cremates people’s premier & lowers national flag amidst cries of grief

• China cremates people’s premier & lowers the national flag amidst cries of grief.
• China observed a day of mourning during the cremation of former Premier Li Keqiang.
• Li passed away in Shanghai last Friday at the age of 68.

China observed a day of mourning as they lowered the national flag at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on Thursday to pay their respects during the cremation of former Premier Li Keqiang, who was affectionately known as “the people’s premier” for his hands-on and pragmatic approach to leadership.

Li, who served as premier for a decade and was recognized for his economic expertise and support for reform, passed away in Shanghai last Friday at the age of 68, following a heart attack.

“In memory of comrade Li Keqiang, flags were flown at half-mast at Tiananmen Square in the capital,” reported state media.

A funeral for Li was held at a Beijing cemetery where high-ranking officials and national figures are interred. President Xi Jinping and his wife, along with other members of the Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee and Vice President Han Zheng, paid their final respects at the ceremony.

The group observed a moment of silence and made three bows, according to the official Xinhua news agency. Former President Hu Jintao expressed his condolences by sending a wreath, as reported by Xinhua.

Online platforms were inundated with messages of grief from Chinese citizens, with many expressing their remembrance of Li and sharing photographs and videos from the past featuring his quotes.

The mourning for Li was particularly prominent on the social media platform Weibo, where the mourning symbol of a chrysanthemum flower replaced the usual ‘like’ button on relevant posts. The topic of Li’s passing was the most discussed on Weibo, with the mourning hashtag receiving 430 million views.

Li’s contributions to the country were acknowledged, and his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic was highlighted by a 39-year-old Beijing resident, Gao. Many described Li as down-to-earth, humble, and dedicated to improving people’s livelihoods.

Li was once seen as a potential contender for leadership within the Communist Party, but he had been sidelined in recent years as President Xi Jinping tightened his control over economic policymaking.

The unexpected passing of the former premier left some feeling a sense of disbelief, as one young lawyer in Beijing, surnamed Wan, expressed sadness at Li’s relatively early departure.

In a show of mourning, some businesses, including international coffee chain Starbucks, temporarily altered their app interfaces to black and white.

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