China lawmakers hail Zhu Rongji

Zhu, who gained a reputation as a hard-nosed graftbuster, gave lawmakers and reporters at the Great Hall of the People few new barbs on corruption in what was likely his final performance at centrestage.

But Zhu, it seemed, could do no wrong after his final report to the Assembly’s opening session after five years in the job. Colleagues such as Bo Xilai, the charismatic governor of the northeastern province of Liaoning, said Zhu’s would be a tough act to follow. ‘‘I give him a mark of 9.99,’’ raved Bo, the son of a revolutionary elder and a media magnet, as a swarm of reporters from Hong Kong and Taiwan buzzed around him. Asked about the missing fraction, the ‘‘princeling’’ gave no answer.

‘‘Premier Zhu has a lot of compassion for the people. At the same time, he abhors corruption,’’ Bo said.

‘‘His grasp of the economic circumstances is very sharp. In addition, he concentrates both on microeconomic activities and on grasping the macroeconomics.’’ Yan Jinliang, a delegate from Jiangxi, one of China’s poorest provinces, said Zhu was an ideal premier.

‘‘He’s the people’s premier. He is reform-minded and effective and has made huge contributions to improving living standards,’’ said Yan Jinliang.

Critics, however, say Zhu has left a raft of problems to his successor. His state sector reforms have not been as successful as figures show, they say.

His plan to rid banks of massive debt has gone slowly and, although the bureaucracy shrank during his tenure, many officials remain on the payroll at think-tanks and other bodies.

While Zhu collected pats, his successor, Vice Premier Wen Jiabao, drew less glowing praise. Wen, described by one delegate as a ‘‘self-righting doll’’ after serving as personal assistant to two Communist Party bosses purged in the 1980s, is untested.

‘‘He cannot compete with Zhu from the aspect of capabilities, courage and charisma,’’ said the delegate.

‘‘I think it will take at least three years for the new leaders to set up their own reputation. They need some time to be mature.’’ (Reuters)