US, China agree to work toward an expected Biden-Xi summit - CNA

Wang told Biden that the objective of his visit was to help "stem the decline" in US-China ties "with an eye on San Francisco", without giving any details, according to a brief statement from the Chinese foreign ministry.

The foreign ministry readouts for Wang's meetings with Blinken and Sullivan said that "both sides agreed to work together to achieve a meeting between the two heads of state in San Francisco".

"China attaches importance to the US side's hopes of stabilising and improving US ties with China," Wang was quoted as saying in his meeting with Biden.

The Biden administration has seen direct leader-level engagement with Xi as particularly important in managing tensions as it seeks to prevent relations from veering into conflict.

"A big part of a potential meeting would be the two leaders sitting down together and having those conversations on strategic intent," the US official said.

On Thursday, Wang told Blinken that the two countries have disagreements and need "in-depth" and "comprehensive" dialogue to reduce misunderstandings and stabilise ties.

"Not only should we resume dialogue, the dialogue should be in-depth and comprehensive," Wang said.

Wang's three-day visit follows a flurry of bilateral diplomatic engagements in recent months, largely at US request, aimed at salvaging what were rapidly deteriorating ties early in the year following the US downing of an alleged Chinese spy balloon.

But some in Washington have questioned whether a slate of mostly unreciprocated US cabinet-level official visits to Beijing over the past six months, including by Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, played into Beijing's hand.

The trips by Yellen and Raimondo led to new bilateral economic and commercial working groups, which critics worry will only pull US focus away from - and possibly delay - sanctions, export controls and broader measures intended to enhance US competition with China.

US officials have maintained that increased diplomacy does not mean a let up in policy.

CONCERN OVER MIDDLE EAST

The Israel-Hamas conflict has added a fresh dynamic to the testy relationship between the superpowers, and Washington is hoping Beijing can use its influence with Iran to prevent an escalation into a wider war in the Middle East.

US officials said the issue came up frequently during Wang's meetings but it was unclear whether Washington was able to get Beijing on board to commit to using its influence to help contain the conflict.

"We expressed our deep concern with the situation and pressed China to take a more constructive approach, and that would include, of course, their engagements with the Iranians, to urge calm," another of the senior administration officials said.

China has condemned violence and attacks on civilians in the conflict, and while Wang has declared Israel's actions "beyond the scope of self-defence" he has not named Hamas in his comments.

The second official said Blinken raised US concerns about China’s recent actions in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, including its “dangerous and unlawful obstruction” of the Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea and its unsafe intercept of a US aircraft. 

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2023-10-28 04:55:00Z
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Li Keqiang’s sudden death ‘a total surprise’ to China’s top leaders - South China Morning Post

But it was another 10 hours before Beijing released an official obituary. Published by Xinhua around 6.30pm, the document was signed by the ruling Communist Party leadership, who praised Li’s contribution to the party and state.

China’s Communist Party mourns Li Keqiang’s death, praises achievements

Chen Daoyin, a political commentator and former professor at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, said Beijing seemed underprepared in its messaging.

“I think Li’s death was a total surprise to Beijing’s top leaders, as the state media obviously did not prepare his full obituary, unlike what they will do in the case of party leaders who are known to be very ill,” Chen said.

About the brief first official message, Chen said Beijing chose to announce Li’s passing “as soon as possible, because it wants to curb all the conspiracy theories that might arise from this”.

“Beijing will never divulge the full details of Li’s death. But it looks like they are trying to manage the situation by announcing whatever can be made available to the public domain and moving quickly on the arrangement of Li’s funeral.”

Li, 68, died at 00.10am on Friday during a “rest” visit to Shanghai, according to Xinhua. He had stepped down as premier in March after 10 years on the job.

Medical experts tending to Li Keqiang had done everything in their power to revive Li, sources and analysts told the South China Morning Post.

Two sources based in Shanghai said Li suffered a heart attack on Thursday after swimming at the Dong Jiao State Guest Hotel, where he was staying. He was rushed to nearby Shuguang hospital by his security and healthcare team, a comprehensive support system provided for former senior leaders.

03:31

‘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

The hospital mobilised “all the resources available and called for top experts in Shanghai” to tend to Li, a person with knowledge of the situation said.

“They tried everything. Unfortunately, they failed to bring him back,” said a second source with direct knowledge of the matter, adding that Li had previously undergone coronary artery bypass surgery.

Both sources said Li’s body had been flown back to Beijing on Friday night.

Deng Yuwen, former deputy editor of Study Times, the official newspaper of the Central Party School where cadres are trained, said funeral arrangements of former state leaders had to be endorsed by the party’s top decision making Politburo, which was holding a regular meeting on Friday.

“[Li’s death] should have been one of the most important agendas of the meeting, as the party needs to decide on the composition of the funeral committee and make sure the proceedings go smoothly. Xinhua can only announce the full obituary after the Politburo meeting approves it,” Deng said.

Li is among very few retired Chinese leaders to have died before reaching the age of 70. Most stay healthy and live well beyond 90, or even 100, their longevity attributed to the comprehensive medical care and security privileges provided to party and state leaders even after retirement.

But former executive vice-premier Huang Ju, like Li, was only 68 when he died in 2007. Then, too, official media released a short announcement on the day of his death, with a full obituary published later.

China’s charismatic, truth-telling ex-premier mourned as reforms hang in the air

Song Ping, a former member of the Politburo Standing Committee and the oldest surviving party elder, is 106 this year. Former Chinese president Jiang Zemin and prime minister Li Peng were 96 and 90 when they passed away in 2022 and 2019, respectively.

Special diet plans and dedicated organic food supply are also believed to contribute to their longevity. As early as 1941, the party set up a strict hierarchical supply system based on the Soviet model, giving high-level officials various “special supplies” including food items, tobacco, alcohol, tea and medicine.

Zeng Xuyuan, former director of the nutrition department of Beijing Hospital, who served as a nutrition and health expert for top leaders, and Li Ruifen, former director of the nutrition department of the Beijing Military Region General Hospital, revealed the special dietary principles of leaders in a 2012 interview with party mouthpiece People’s Daily.

According to Zeng, Chinese leaders’ dietary priorities include eating 25 kinds of food every day so that they can have the right mix of balanced nutrition.

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2023-10-28 00:00:17Z
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Flowers laid at former home of late Chinese ex-premier Li Keqiang - The Straits Times

DINGYUAN, China - As dusk fell on a remote village in eastern China on Friday, a small group gathered around a mud and thatch house to pay tribute to its most famous resident - former premier Li Keqiang, who died on Friday aged 68.

Once in the running to take over the country’s top job before being passed over for President Xi Jinping, Mr Li had a relatively humble upbringing in rural Anhui province.

On Friday, a cluster of bouquets was laid against the walls of his family home in Jiuzi village, Dingyuan county, where he lived throughout many of his school years.

“Li Keqiang was an amiable premier and was loved by people all over the country,” said one man, who stood staring at the display for some time, looking moved.

“When I heard the news, I was shocked, unable to accept the truth. I happened to be here in Dingyuan, his hometown, and came here to mourn our beloved premier,” he told AFP.

It was not clear whether some of the people milling around were present in an official capacity, with the pile of bouquets slowly added to as the evening went on.

A small group of people gathered, with some laying bunches of yellow and white chrysanthemums - a symbol of mourning in China - and bowing before the house.

“He has done a lot of good things for the people and the country. We are very grateful to him,” one man told AFP.

The mourners speaking to AFP didn’t want to give their names for privacy reasons.

Arriving with a large standing floral arrangement, a delivery man told AFP he had been summoned from about an hour away, as there were no closer flower shops.

The rural surroundings were a far cry from the lofty halls of power in Beijing where Mr Li spent a decade as China’s nominal second in command.

Mr Li reportedly still has relatives living in Jiuzi, a small settlement surrounded by fields of hay, where the sides of the roads are lined by beans left out to dry.

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2023-10-27 22:59:00Z
CBMibWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnN0cmFpdHN0aW1lcy5jb20vYXNpYS9lYXN0LWFzaWEvZmxvd2Vycy1sYWlkLWF0LWZvcm1lci1ob21lLW9mLWxhdGUtY2hpbmVzZS1leC1wcmVtaWVyLWxpLWtlcWlhbmfSAQA

China’s Communist Party mourns Li Keqiang’s death, praises achievements - South China Morning Post

The article praised him for his push for the Belt and Road Initiative, the strategy spearheaded by Xi aimed at trade and economic integration across Asia, Europe and Africa. He was also credited for his efforts to seek economic stability.

He dealt with challenges, including “accelerating world changes, the Covid-19 epidemic and the economic downturn”, the obituary said, but worked steadily and sought progress.

The obituary described most of his work during his premiership as done “under the leadership of the party with General Secretary Xi Jinping as the core”. It said Li’s support for Xi continued after the former premier’s retirement in March.

The obituary said that in March, after Li retired, he “firmly supported the leadership of the Central Committee with Xi as the core, cared about the development of the party and the country, as well as the party’s efforts to build a clean government and fight corruption”.

Li died in Shanghai on Friday morning. State broadcaster CCTV reported that he suffered a heart attack one day earlier.

Chinese media outlets are attributing their reports to CCTV or the state news agency Xinhua, which made the announcement shortly after 8am.

00:55

Former Chinese premier Li Keqiang dies of heart attack

Former Chinese premier Li Keqiang dies of heart attack

The Yan’an Elevated Road connecting the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport with the city centre was blocked from Friday morning, prompting speculation that some top state officials were flying into Shanghai.

A security staff member standing in uniform at the entrance of the Dongjiao State Guest Hotel, a state-owned hotel located in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area, said on Friday afternoon the whole hotel had suspended business until further notice.

Another worker said Li had “passed away in the hotel”, adding that the entrance was “packed with police in the morning”.

At the foreign ministry press conference on Friday afternoon, spokeswoman Mao Ning said “we expressed our condolences”, when asked by reporters for comment on Li’s death. Mao also asked journalists to pay attention to official obituaries and funeral announcements.

As of 9am on Friday, the hashtag about Li’s death had been read nearly 700 million times on social media platform Weibo. On the posts about Li, Weibo’s “like” button turned into a daisy about half an hour later.

Comments are severely restricted under the posts of media outlets, with only a tiny number displayed. But among the reposts, most online commenters are expressing their shock and condolences.

Multiple videos of Li are circulating on social media, including his remarks during a press conference at last year’s National People’s Congress, when he said that China’s opening-up policy would not change “just as the course of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers will not be reversed”.

After becoming premier in 2013, he consistently pushed the private economy, foreign investment and simplified government procedures.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) shakes hands with former premier Li Keqiang during the fourth plenary session of the National People’s Congress at the Great Hall in March, which marked Li’s retirement after serving two five-year terms. Photo: Reuters

Under President Xi Jinping, a large amount of decision-making power over economic affairs, previously under the State Council, has been absorbed by party organs under Xi’s push to tighten the Communist Party’s control in all areas.

A long article complaining about China’s business environment posted online in 2015 by Wu Hai, who went on to found Mei KTV, attracted the attention of Li, who invited him to speak at a seminar at Zhongnanhai, the leadership compound.

The outspoken entrepreneur wept on Friday as he recalled the late premier in a phone interview with the South China Morning Post.

“He really did his best and everything he could for this country, for China’s economy, especially for the business environment,” Wu said. “I hope what he did for the country can be continued.”

Whatever happened to Likonomics? Premier Li Keqiang heads for the exit

James Zimmerman, former chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, responded to the news shortly after 9.30am, describing it as “sad” and recalled his meetings with the former premier, starting when Li was vice-premier in 2008.

At that time, Li was leading a conference to encourage and promote development and investment in the region after an earthquake, amid fears the disaster would damage business confidence.

“Li was viewed as a pragmatic leader and encouraged economic reform,” Zimmerman said, adding that Li was considered “less ideological” than others in the leadership but his voice was later sidelined.

“His passing is a significant loss to the moderate voices in the party leadership,” he added, in an email to the Post.

Li stepped down in March – despite not reaching the retirement age set for his level – along with Wang Yang, former chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China’s top political advisory body.

At the time, a Xinhua article on the selection of top cadres said the decision by some senior officials to voluntarily stand aside for younger people showed “broad-mindedness and high moral integrity”, without mentioning anyone by name.

The parliamentary meeting in March – also known as the “two sessions” – was Li’s last public appearance. He delivered his last government work report at the opening ceremony of the National People’s Congress.

According to videos circulating on social media, Li was seen visiting the Mogao Caves, a World Heritage site in the northwestern province of Gansu, at the end of August, but there were no official reports mentioning the tour.

Li is survived by his wife Cheng Hong, a professor of English literature at Beijing’s Capital University of Economics and Business, who has had several collections of essays or translations published. The couple has one daughter, according to official media reports.

Li’s brother, Li Keming, was once a senior official at China Tobacco, which oversees the country’s tobacco industry and is responsible for producing and selling cigarettes. Li Keming also once headed a State Council agency that supervises large state-owned enterprises.

Additional reporting by Ann Cao

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2023-10-27 12:20:37Z
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Li Keqiang, former premier of China, dead after heart attack - South China Morning Post

Chinese media outlets are attributing their reports to CCTV or the state news agency Xinhua, which made the announcement shortly after 8am.

00:55

Former Chinese premier Li Keqiang dies of heart attack

Former Chinese premier Li Keqiang dies of heart attack

The Yan’an Elevated Road connecting the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport with the city centre was blocked from Friday morning, prompting speculation that some top state officials were flying into Shanghai.

At the foreign affairs ministry press conference on Friday afternoon, spokeswoman Mao Ning said “we expressed our condolences”, when asked by reporters for comment on Li’s death. Mao also asked journalists to pay attention to official obituaries and funeral announcements.

As of 9am on Friday, the hashtag about Li’s death had been read nearly 700 million times on social media platform Weibo. On the posts about Li, Weibo’s “like” button turned into a daisy about half an hour later.

Comments are severely restricted under the posts of media outlets, with only a tiny number displayed. But among the reposts, most online commenters are expressing their shock and condolences.

Multiple videos of Li are circulating on social media, including his remarks during a press conference at last year’s National People’s Congress, when he said that China’s opening-up policy would not change “just as the course of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers will not be reversed”.

After becoming premier in 2013, he consistently pushed the private economy, foreign investment and simplified government procedures.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) shakes hands with former premier Li Keqiang during the fourth plenary session of the National People’s Congress at the Great Hall in March, which marked Li’s retirement after serving two five-year terms. Photo: Reuters

Under President Xi Jinping, a large amount of decision-making power over economic affairs, previously under the State Council, has been absorbed by party organs under Xi’s push to tighten the Communist Party’s control in all areas.

A long article complaining about China’s business environment posted online in 2015 by Wu Hai, who went on to found Mei KTV, attracted the attention of Li, who invited him to speak at a seminar at Zhongnanhai, the leadership compound.

The outspoken entrepreneur wept on Friday as he recalled the late premier in a phone interview with the South China Morning Post.

“He really did his best and everything he could for this country, for China’s economy, especially for the business environment,” Wu said. “I hope what he did for the country can be continued.”

Whatever happened to Likonomics? Premier Li Keqiang heads for the exit

James Zimmerman, former chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, responded to the news shortly after 9.30am, describing it as “sad” and recalled his meetings with the former premier, starting when Li was vice-premier in 2008.

At that time, Li was leading a conference to encourage and promote development and investment in the region after an earthquake, amid fears the disaster would damage business confidence.

“Li was viewed as a pragmatic leader and encouraged economic reform,” Zimmerman said, adding that Li was considered “less ideological” than others in the leadership but his voice was later sidelined.

“His passing is a significant loss to the moderate voices in the party leadership,” he added, in an email to the Post.

Li stepped down in March – despite not reaching the retirement age set for his level – along with Wang Yang, former chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China’s top political advisory body.

At the time, a Xinhua article on the selection of top cadres said the decision by some senior officials to voluntarily stand aside for younger people showed “broad-mindedness and high moral integrity”, without mentioning anyone by name.

The parliamentary meeting in March – also known as the “two sessions” – was Li’s last public appearance. He delivered his last government work report at the opening ceremony of the National People’s Congress.

According to videos circulating on social media, Li was seen visiting the Mogao Caves, a World Heritage site in the northwestern province of Gansu, at the end of August, but there were no official reports mentioning the tour.

Li is survived by his wife Cheng Hong, a professor of English literature at Beijing’s Capital University of Economics and Business, who has had several collections of essays or translations published. The couple has one daughter, according to official media reports.

Li’s brother, Li Keming, was once a senior official at China Tobacco, which oversees the country’s tobacco industry and is responsible for producing and selling cigarettes. Li Keming also once headed a State Council agency that supervises large state-owned enterprises.

Additional reporting by Ann Cao

More to follow …

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2023-10-27 07:46:23Z
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'I couldn't breathe': Seoul crowd crush survivor writes to heal - CNA

WRITING TO HEAL

Kim walked for hours to get home, in a state of shock.

"I couldn't sleep for two days. As if obsessed with something, I couldn't turn off the news on TV. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, I only drank water and kept watching the news."

Kim, a writer, struggled with feelings of survivor's guilt, and eventually her therapist suggested that writing about her feelings might allow her to process what had happened.

At first, she shared her writing only in private forums online, where she received overwhelmingly positive feedback, including from others who said it had helped them with their own Itaewon-linked trauma.

After one of her posts went viral, local newspapers asked her to write for them, which she eventually agreed to - but the reaction from the general public was overwhelmingly negative.

"When it was released to the public, I did not receive comfort from the reactions I received. Personally it was good as a way to release my feelings and it was helpful in relieving my depression," she said.

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2023-10-27 08:01:00Z
2490544104

China's Former Premier Li Keqiang Dies of Heart Attack at 68 - Bloomberg

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

1. China's Former Premier Li Keqiang Dies of Heart Attack at 68  Bloomberg
2. China's ex-Premier Li Keqiang dies at 68  CNA
3. China's former premier Li Keqiang dies of heart attack at age 68  The Straits Times
4. Li Keqiang: The Late Chinese Premier With Unrealized Ambitions  Bloomberg
5. China's former premier Li Keqiang has died: Report  CNA
6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2023-10-27 03:42:28Z
2566707906