Beijing | China's former premier Zhu Rongji, who passed away at the age of 98 last week, was cremated in Beijing on Tuesday.

President Xi Jinping and other senior leaders of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) attended the funeral held at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery.

The leaders walked slowly toward Zhu's body amid solemn music and stood in silent tribute.

Former president Hu Jintao sent a wreath to express his condolences over Zhu's passing.

Zhu died on August 12. He had served as premier from 1998 to 2003 and is remembered for his tough campaign against corruption, efforts to shake up the centrally planned economy and sweeping reforms of the state-owned enterprise (SOE) sector.

He had served as a member of the CPC's Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and premier of the State Council.

Zhu also played a key role in securing China's entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO), a landmark step that accelerated the country's integration into the global economy.

The CPC in its official obituary extolled Zhu as an excellent party member, a time-tested and loyal communist fighter, and an outstanding proletarian revolutionist and statesman.