Li Qiang
- Known for
- Premier of China, CCP Politburo Standing Committee member
- Born in
- Rui'an, China
- Education
- EMBA, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Li Qiang is the current Premier of China and the second-ranking member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the CCP. He is widely regarded as a close ally of Xi Jinping, stemming from their time together in Zhejiang Province. Li’s career is defined by a strong, consistent advocacy for pro-business policies and economic reform.
Signature Positions
Li’s tenure in various leadership roles highlights a clear economic orientation:
- Pro-Business Policies: Advocated for and implemented policies supporting private enterprise, famously stating that "without the private economy, Wenzhou's urban development would be set back by at least a century".
- Economic Reforms: Stressed the urgency of economic reform, describing it as a matter of "life and death" during his time in Zhejiang.
- Foreign Investment: Oversaw increasing foreign investment, notably facilitating the establishment of Tesla's Gigafactory in Shanghai.
- Innovation & R&D: Emphasized technological independence and called for increased investment in research and development, visiting key semiconductor and AI firms.
- International Trade: Promotes "free markets and free trade" on the global stage while criticizing protectionism and "technological monopolies".
Notable Tensions
Li's tenure has faced significant challenges and scrutiny:
- Shanghai COVID Lockdown: He faced criticism for the handling of the two-month Shanghai COVID-19 lockdown in early 2022, though reports suggest he was open to living with COVID and arranging for Western mRNA vaccines.
- Zero-COVID Relaxation: Reports suggest he pushed for a quicker relaxation of zero-COVID rules in late 2022, potentially resisting pressure from the central leadership on the pace of reopening.
- Characteristic Towns: His Zhejiang-era project of "characteristic towns" was later noted by The Economist as having devolved into housing speculation hotspots in some cases.
Li Qiang is the first Premier since Zhou Enlai to rise directly to the role without prior central government experience, highlighting the emphasis on loyal local administrators in the current leadership structure. His premiership has involved strengthening the Premier's position within the State Council, notably by re-establishing the Premier’s Work Meeting.