Former Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, 68, died early on Friday after suffering a sudden heart attack in Shanghai, the state news agency reported.

The former premier suffered a heart attack late Thursday and died at 12:10 a.m. Friday (16:10 GMT Thursday) after attempts to resuscitate him failed.

Mr Li stepped down as premier in March after 10 years in office under Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The former premier was born on July 1, 1955, in Dingyuan, in the eastern province of Anhui.

In 1974, during the Cultural Revolution, he was forced to go to the countryside like other intellectuals.

As one of only three per cent of all applicants who managed to gain admission, he studied law at Peking University and earned a doctorate in economics.

Messrs Xi and Li were the favourites to succeed then-president and Chinese Communist Party leader Hu Jintao, but Mr Xi prevailed, and Mr Li, considered a Hu protégé, had to settle for the post of prime minister.

Mr Li was effectively sidelined by Mr Xi and eventually replaced by Li Qiang in March.

There had been rumours about Mr Li’s health for years.

During his visits abroad, long rest breaks always had to be built into his schedule, diplomats reported in confidential conversations. 

(dpa/NAN)