RONG Yiren, former vice-president of China, died last night in Beijing
at the age of 89, China Central Television announced at noon today.
Rong was the founder, former chairman and president of the CITIC Trust
and Investment Co, which was established in 1979 with the approval of
the State Council, and has become a window on China's opening up to the
world.
In 1957, Rong was praised as a "red capitalist" by then vice premier
Chen Yi. In 1986, he was listed in the top 50 world famous entrepreneurs
by Fortune magazine. In 1992, he was credited as "honorary citizen" of
California, in the United States.
He was elected vice chairman of the 6th and the 7th Standing Committees
of the National People's Congress, the top legislature of the country,
and vice chairman of the 5th China People's Political Consultative
Committee, China's top advisory body.
Rong, who was not a Communist Party member, also served important
positions at China's central government agencies for about 50 years
since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
(Zhang Xiaobin, Oct 27, 2005, Beijing Time)