(b. 1928): One of several orphans protected by Zhou Enlai, he was a Soviet‑trained engineer who became premier of China in 1988. Initially seen as a supporter of Deng Xiaoping's policies of rapid economic change, he emerged as a major hard‑liner in 1989.

Li Peng (Simplified Chinese: 李鹏, Traditional Chinese: 李鵬, Wade-Giles: Li P'eng) (b. October, 1928) was the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) from 1998 to 2003 and was second-ranking in the Communist Party of China (CPC) behind Jiang Zemin on the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China until 2002. He served as Premier of the State Council between 1987 and 1998.