Ex-premier Li Peng passes away at 91

Former premier Li Peng died of illness in Beijing at the age of 91 at 11:11 pm on Monday, an official statement said on Tuesday.

Li was an excellent member of the Communist Party of China, a time-tested and loyal Communist soldier, a prominent proletarian revolutionary and statesman, as well as an outstanding leader of the Party and the country, the statement said.

Li joined the CPC in 1945. From 1979 to 1983, he served in several ministerial and vice-ministerial positions.