Former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji has died, according to state media. The impatient, sharp-tongued reformer helped ignite China's explosive economic boom by forcing wrenching change on state industry in the 1990s and leading the country into the World Trade Organization. Zhu clashed with Communist Party conservatives and state industry bosses as he pushed state-owned companies to become efficient and profitable. Zhu made his name as a deputy premier in the 1990s by crushing inflation. Zhu was named deputy premier in 1991 and joined the party's ruling Standing Committee in 1993.