Former Chinese premier and economic reformer Zhu Rongji has died at age 97, according to state media. Zhu clashed with Communist Party conservatives and state industry bosses as he pushed state-owned companies to become efficient and profitable. That cost millions of lay-offs, but helped propel China to overtake Japan as the second-largest economy behind the United States in 2010. Zhu launched China’s home ownership boom in 1998 with an initiative to sell apartments owned by state companies. Zhu was named deputy premier in 1991 and joined the party’s ruling Standing Committee in 1993.