Renowned Chinese former Premier Li Keqiang passed away from a sudden heart attack on Friday, just seven months after retiring from his decade-long role in office.

At the age of 68, his tenure, once marked by reformist ideals, had gradually dimmed in the shadow of President Xi Jinping's tightening grip on power, which steered China's second-largest economy towards a more statist direction.

Li, an esteemed economist, was a vocal advocate for an open market economy and supply-side reforms, known as "Likonomics," although his vision was never fully realized. Over time, he had to align with President Xi's preference for greater state control, resulting in a diminishing influence as Xi appointed his own loyalists to key positions.

The unexpected passing of Comrade Li Keqiang occurred in Shanghai on October 27, following a heart attack during his recent rest period. The news prompted an outpouring of grief and shock on Chinese social media, with some official government websites adopting black-and-white themes to signify mourning. Even the popular Weibo microblogging platform transformed its "like" button into a "mourn" icon resembling a chrysanthemum.

Li had served as premier and headed China's cabinet for a decade under President Xi, ultimately stepping down from all political roles in March.

Notably, in August 2022, during a visit to a statue of Deng Xiaoping, the leader responsible for transformative economic reforms in China, Li pledged, "Reform and opening up will not stop.

The Yangtze and Yellow River will not reverse course." Although video clips of this speech went viral, they were later censored from Chinese social media due to interpretations of them as a veiled criticism of Xi's policies.

Li's passing has been perceived as the end of an era for some Chinese intellectuals and members of the liberal elite, as he was seen as a beacon of China's liberal economic reform. He will be remembered for his advocacy of a freer market and addressing income inequality, but many will also lament what could have been.

His influence, while significant, was eclipsed by his predecessors as premier, Zhu Rongji and Wen Jiabao. Li faced considerable constraints under President Xi's administration, making it challenging for him to enact significant change.

Li Keqiang, often characterized as a calm and tenacious advocate for economic reforms, will be remembered for his dedication and his interactions with ordinary citizens during visits to disaster sites.

Li's unique background, which included toiling in the fields during the Cultural Revolution, and his association with pro-democracy advocates during his time at Peking University, added depth to his political journey. His connection to the Youth League, known for its reformist inclinations, was instrumental in his rise within the Communist Party.

During his career, Li served as a provincial leader in Henan, where he faced challenges related to an AIDS scandal, and as the party chief of Liaoning, a province seeking to attract investment and modernize its industries. His political journey was intertwined with the rise of President Xi, who eventually sought to dismantle the political faction associated with the Youth League.

Li Keqiang is survived by his wife, Cheng Hong, a professor of English, and their daughter.