Beijing | The funeral of former Chinese leader Zhu Rongji will take place in Beijing on August 18, it was announced on Sunday.

Zhu, who was one of the country's foremost economic reformers, passed away on August 12 at the age of 98.

He served as China’s 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 sector.

Zhu's remains will be cremated in Beijing.

To mourn his death, national flags will fly at half-mast on Tuesday at Tian'anmen Square, Xinhuamen, the Great Hall of the People, all ministry buildings, and in Hong Kong and the Macao Special Administrative Region, an official announcement here said.

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

He also served as a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and premier of the State Council.

In an obituary jointly issued by the CPC Central Committee and its official bodies, Zhu was praised as an excellent party member, a time-tested and loyal communist fighter and an outstanding proletarian revolutionist.