New Delhi, Aug. 12 -- Former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji, one of the most prominent economic reformers in modern China, died on Wednesday after an illness. He was reported to be 97 in one account and 98 in another in the material provided.

Zhu served as China's premier from 1998 to 2003 and became known for his tough approach to economic reform, corruption and inefficient state-owned enterprises. His tenure was a crucial period in China's transition from a centrally planned economy towards a more market-oriented system and deeper integration with the global economy.

Born in Changsha in China's Hunan province in October 1928, Zhu graduated from Tsinghua University with a degree in electrical engineering. He joined the Communist Party of C...