Zhu Rongji mourned in China before Beijing funeral

Former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji was mourned in China on Tuesday with lowered flags and online commemorations, ahead of a funeral for the economic reformer who died last week at 97.

Flags were lowered at government buildings across Beijing and on Tiananmen Square, AFP journalists saw. Online, the Tiananmen tribute was the top trending topic on Chinese microblogging site Weibo.

Zhu's remains were to be cremated in Beijing on Tuesday, state news agency Xinhua said on Sunday. A farewell gathering attended by senior leaders of China's ruling Communist Party was expected beforehand under standard protocol.

Zhu was born in 1928 in central China and rose through the Communist Party after the 1949 revolution led by Mao Zedong. His roles included mayor of Shanghai, national vice premier and premier.

He served a five-year premiership starting in 1998, during the presidency of Jiang Zemin. Zhu became known for an anti-corruption drive, the dismantling of inefficient state-owned firms and China's integration with the global economy.

Xinhua praised Zhu after his death as “an outstanding proletarian revolutionist” and statesman.