China's former vice premier Liu Yandong dies aged 80
Liu Yandong, a former vice premier of China and member of the Politburo, died in Beijing on Wednesday at the age of 80, according to state-run Xinhua news agency.
Liu Yandong, a former vice premier of China and a former member of the Communist Party's elite Politburo, died in Beijing on Wednesday, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Born in November 1945, Liu was 80. Her death was announced without further details about the cause.
Liu served as vice premier from 2013 to 2018, overseeing education, culture and public health. She was also a member of the Politburo, the party's top decision-making body, from 2012 to 2017.
Her career included roles as minister of education and as a top official in the party's united front work, which focuses on relations with non-communist groups. Liu was one of the few women to reach such high levels of power in the Chinese government.
The official announcement described her as an 'outstanding member of the Communist Party' and praised her contributions to China's development. No public funeral arrangements have been disclosed.