'Father of rural reform' dies aged 102

Du Runsheng, generally honored as China's "father of rural reform", passed away on Friday in Beijing at the age of 102, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Du was the former director of the Administration of the Rural Development Research Center of the State Council. As a well-known economist and the most influential expert on rural issues, Du was one of the key people involved in China's rural reforms in the 1980s.

Du had been in hospital, but he was in stable condition. His condition suddenly worsened on Thursday afternoon and he passed away at 6:20 am on Friday in hospital, Xinhua said.