Former Chinese Finance Minister Wang Bingqian passed away in Guangdong on December 8 due to illness, at the age of 100. His cremation took place on the 14th at the funeral home in Guangzhou. Zhao Leji, Chairman of the National People’s Congress, paid his respects at the funeral home in Guangzhou. In addition to eight current high-ranking officials, former Chinese Communist Party leader Hu Jintao also expressed condolences for Wang Bingqian.
According to Xinhua News Agency, during Wang Bingqian’s illness and after his passing, Hu Jintao and others “visited the hospital or expressed condolences in various forms,” mourning Wang Bingqian’s death and offering condolences to his family.
Public records show that Wang Bingqian was born in June 1925 in Lixian County, Hebei Province. In August 1980, he became Minister of Finance and Party Secretary of the Ministry of Finance. In June 1983, he served as a State Councilor concurrently holding the positions of Minister of Finance and Party Secretary. In March 1993, Wang Bingqian became Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, retiring in March 1998.
The official media report mentioned former party leader Hu Jintao’s visit to the hospital or expressions of condolences through various forms following Wang Bingqian’s passing, which is customary.
At 82 years old, Hu Jintao, who was “escorted” out of the venue at the closure of the 20th Party Congress by Xi Jinping in October 2022, has been a subject of international speculation due to infighting within the top Chinese Communist Party leadership. With Li Keqiang and Wang Yang retiring, and Hu Chunhua being removed from the Politburo, the “Youth League faction” led by Hu Jintao has been allegedly targeted for elimination by Xi Jinping. However, rumors continue to circulate about Hu Jintao and other elder statesmen being involved in power struggles.
Since 2023, Hu Jintao has not made any public appearances, with his name occasionally appearing in memorial or condolence occasions, such as sending floral wreaths to the late former high-ranking Chinese Communist Party officials Li Keqiang and Wu Bangguo.
On September 3 this year, during the military parade in Beijing, retired comrades Hu Jintao, Zhu Rongji, and Song Ping were absent, reportedly due to health reasons.