The Yangtze and Yellow Rivers Will Not Flow Backwards

In the early hours of October 27, 2023, the former Premier suddenly passed away due to a heart attack at the age of 68, leaving everyone in shock.

Just last month, I saw a video of him on Twitter, smiling and walking briskly during a visit to Dunhuang. Now, he has left this world, a sigh of sorrow.

As a genuine Ph.D. in Economics from Peking University and a recipient of the Sun Yefang Economics Award, his academic foundation was solid. You can still find videos on YouTube of him lecturing provincial-level cadres on economics at the Central Party School. He truly applied theory to practice in his work. Early in his tenure as Premier, the term “Keqiang Index” emerged in economic circles, referring to a measure of China’s actual economic growth based on three indicators: electricity consumption, rail freight volume, and loan disbursements. Barclays Capital even coined the term “Liconomics” to describe his approach to economic management.

Not only was his theoretical foundation strong, but he also applied his theories to practice. There are many videos and photos online of him visiting grassroots areas, blending in with the people wherever he went and receiving enthusiastic support. People dared to speak the truth to him, sharing real situations.

For entrepreneurs after 2010, the most direct impact was the change in the entrepreneurial atmosphere and business environment. In 2014, at the Summer Davos Forum in Tianjin, he first proposed the idea of launching a “mass entrepreneurship and innovation” campaign in China. This coincided with the rapid development of mobile internet, sparking a wave of internet entrepreneurship across the country.

At that time, the entrepreneurial atmosphere was truly vibrant, with endless business plans and projects to discuss. One year, Premier Li even attended the Internet Conference in Hangzhou to personally encourage entrepreneurs. His efforts were not in vain, as companies like Pinduoduo, Toutiao, and Didi Chuxing, all founded around 2014, grew into well-known enterprises.

Later, the Premier strongly advocated for streamlining administration and delegating power. The most visible reform in business administration was the “one-stop registration reform,” which reduced the time to register a company from two or three weeks to just two or three days, saving vast amounts of social resources. In addition to streamlining administration, he also supported entrepreneurs through tax cuts, credit access, and protecting the legal rights of entrepreneurs. During this period, even some private entrepreneurs who had been wrongfully convicted in the past were exonerated.

Beyond supporting entrepreneurship, he also cared about the growth of college students, advising them earnestly to build a solid foundation of knowledge. He paid attention to the wages of migrant workers and worked to address wage arrears. There are many videos and photos online of him visiting grassroots areas, blending in with the people wherever he went, and receiving enthusiastic support. People dared to speak the truth to him, sharing real situations.

He has always enjoyed a good reputation among the people—easygoing, cheerful, down-to-earth, and unpretentious.

During the 2023 National People’s Congress, after delivering his final Government Work Report, the longest applause of the entire session, lasting 20 seconds, continued until he returned to his seat. In the Premier’s press conference afterward, he said, “The Yangtze and Yellow Rivers will not flow backwards.”

The deceased has passed, time moves on, relentless day and night.

I mourn the brevity of my life, and envy the endless flow of the Yangtze River.