At Ex-Premier's Funeral, China's Past Shadows Its Present

Beijing wants to portray today's China as carrying forward Zhu Rongji's era of growth. This message was highlighted around the time of the former premier's funeral. Authorities seek to project continuity with past economic achievements. Official narratives emphasize the lasting legacy of that earlier period. However, the current mood among many citizens tells a different story. For a significant portion of the population, the optimism of that time has since faded. Daily economic realities contrast sharply with past aspirations of rapid progress. This disconnect underscores the complex challenges facing the nation today.