Chinese Premier Li Keqiang highlights his caring side as he bows out

Unlike his predecessors, there was no grand gesture in his last big set piece. Instead there was an emphasis on his efforts to protect people’s livelihoods

Li steered clear of controversy in his final press conference, but focused on the plight of trafficked women, migrant workers, and delivery drivers

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China’s Premier Li Keqiang has indicated he would be stepping down next year. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:30pm, 11 Mar 2022Updated: 1:17am, 12 Mar 2022

In his last televised press conference as premier, Li Keqiang presented himself as a social engineer carefully crafting policies to improve people’s livelihoods in the midst of crises such as Covid-19.

The 66 year-old also portrayed himself as an empathetic government leader who cared about the plight of trafficked women and the underprivileged such as delivery drivers and migrant workers.

There was no dramatic farewell message. Unlike his predecessors Wen Jiabao, who called for “political reform” in his swansong, or Zhu Rongji, who expressed his confidence in the future and proclaimed “we have a clear conscience” on the same occasion, Li highlighted his contribution to keeping the economy afloat during difficult times

“The international environment is complicated and changing, while domestically there are increasing difficulties. But the biggest challenge is the blow Covid-19 dealt to the economy,” he said.

Li Keqiang said he was keen to listen to grass-roots voices when making policy. Photo: EPA-EFE

Li went on to outline how he promised to develop the economy and improve people’s livelihoods in his first press conference as premier nine years ago, and how he has sought to fulfil that promise by streamlining red tape, stimulating the market and providing millions of jobs.