Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, who spearheaded China's entry into global trade and laid the foundation for its explosive growth, has died at the age of 97. Many in China remember him as a tough and pragmatic leader who delivered double-digit growth and wa rarely afraid to speak his mind. He joined the Communist Party in 1949, but was purged twice - first after criticising Mao Zedong's economic policies as "irrational" and being labelled a "rightist", and again during the Cultural Revolution. Zhu led China through difficult negotiations to enter the World Trade Organization in 2002. In state media his obituary described him as an "outstanding member of the Communist Party of China and loyal Commnist fighter... an outstanding leader of the Party and state".