Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today expressed his condolences to the family of former Premier of the People's Republic of China Zhu Rongji, who passed away at the age of 97.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar described Zhu as one of the great architects of China's economic transformation and a good friend, saying his reforms had helped accelerate the country's rise as an economic superpower. Anwar stated, "China has lost one of the great architects of its economic transformation, and I have lost a good friend. It was Zhu's reforms that helped accelerate China's extraordinary rise as an economic superpower," in a Facebook post today.

Anwar recalled working with Zhu in the 1990s to enhance economic and financial ties between Malaysia and China, noting that the foundations laid during that period continue to support bilateral relations today. "In the 1990s, Zhu and I worked together to deepen economic and financial ties between Malaysia and China. Much of what we built in that era still underpins our relationship today," he added.

Anwar also reminisced about personal experiences with Zhu, such as visits to Confucius' home village, Tai Shan, and historic sites linked to Admiral Zheng He. Anwar shared memories of Zhu's home library, where Zhu gifted him several Chinese classics of personal significance. "Zhu was a formidable statesman, but I will remember him above all as a man of great character, driven by a fierce sense of duty to his nation. My deepest condolences go to his wife, his children and to the people of China," he expressed.

Zhu, who served as China's Premier from 1998 to 2003, was widely recognised for implementing significant market-oriented reforms, restructuring state-owned enterprises, and guiding the country's entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO).