Li Keqiang’s Final Words Revealed for the First Time — Close Friend Preserved His Last Handwritten Letter Before Death

On October 27, 2023, a large screen on a street in Beijing displays the obituary of Li Keqiang. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images)

[People News] In early June this year, following revelations that former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who passed away in 2023, may have been murdered, public attention around this claim has surged. Recently, Mr. Hu Liren, a Shanghai entrepreneur now residing in the United States, announced that he will utilise all his social resources to investigate and uncover the truth behind Li Keqiang’s suspicious death. On July 23, Hu revealed that a close friend of Li Keqiang handed him a handwritten letter from the former premier, penned when Li sensed danger looming. Hu stated this letter could become a key piece of evidence in exposing the true cause of Li’s untimely death.

On July 23, during his YouTube broadcast, Mr. Hu Liren disclosed that before his passing, Li Keqiang wrote a personal letter intended for public release to the Chinese people. In the letter, Li expressed a deep premonition of personal danger, suggesting that he was acutely aware of the threats closing in during the final stage of his life.

According to Hu, a close and trusted friend of Li Keqiang, he contacted him in early 2024, three months after Li’s death, to share the contents of the letter and requested that Hu safeguard it until the right moment came to release this valuable piece of historical evidence to the public.

Li’s friend, a professional acquaintance of Hu Liren from years ago, had remained a figure of mutual trust despite infrequent contact. To protect the safety of the source and their family, Hu has chosen not to disclose their identity at this time.

The full text of the letter is as follows:

To the Beloved People of China — A Letter Dedicated to Unfulfilled Ideals

Dear Compatriots, By the time you read this letter, I may no longer be able to speak, to explain, or to leave even a single word behind. But I still wish to take this moment to express the beliefs I hold dear and the deep concerns in my heart.

I was born in an era of material scarcity and grew up during a time of social upheaval. Through education, I was fortunate enough to change my fate and embark on the path of national development. From local governments to the central leadership, I spent decades in public service, witnessing China’s transformation — from isolation to openness, from poverty to subsistence. I saw firsthand the tireless efforts of countless families across this land. Every field visit, every moment spent listening, made me feel the hardship of the people’s lives and the resilience in their hearts.

I have always believed that modernisation should not be measured solely by skyscrapers or GDP growth, but by whether people truly enjoy stable lives, dignified employment, and opportunities to realise their potential. The fruits of development must ultimately benefit each and every ordinary person. Progress must have warmth, reforms must respond to public needs, and policies must never be detached from the will of the people — they must improve their livelihoods.

During my tenure as Premier, I advocated streamlining administration and delegating powers, supported the private economy, and emphasised the decisive role of the market in resource allocation. I firmly believed that China's development must rely on market mechanisms, legal safeguards, and institutional innovation — not administrative commands or human intervention. Only by unleashing society's creativity can the nation's potential truly be realised.

I once said that 600 million Chinese earn less than 1,000 yuan a month. This is not just a cold statistic — it is a reality we must confront. We cannot shy away from problems or responsibility. A responsible government should be problem-oriented and prioritise people’s livelihoods.

I also once said, “Man acts, Heaven watches.” This is not just a call for kindness — it is a deep-seated reverence I held throughout my time in office. Power comes from the people and must serve them, and be held accountable by them. I will never forget those harrowing days during the nationwide COVID response — lockdowns, isolation, anxiety, and sacrifice profoundly altered the lives of countless families. While pandemic measures were necessary, we must also face their darker side. Excessive lockdowns harmed livelihoods, information blockages sparked panic, and suppressing expression stirred social unrest. Too many families endured hardship in silence, and too many truthful voices went unheard.

Looking back, we must not only summarise successes, but bravely confront mistakes. A truly responsible government should listen to the people during a crisis and correct course, not let them suffer in silence or struggle without a voice. In recent years, reform momentum has slowed, public confidence in policies and development has wavered, and diverse voices have faded. These changes deserve our reflection. A healthy society must encourage truth-telling, accommodate differing views, and resolve conflicts through institutional means. If everything depends on control and stability maintenance alone, such superficial calm cannot last.

I never deliberately condemned the system, nor am I obsessed with historical judgment. I care more about how we can learn from the past and forge ahead. I’ve always believed that China’s future belongs to every down-to-earth dreamer. Please, do not lose hope. Believe that openness is the only path to progress, and reform is the fundamental route to fairness and justice. We cannot return to the past, cannot close our vision, and must not let fear overpower reason. Remain clear-eyed citizens. Even amid noise, do not abandon rational thought; even with little power, never forsake conscience.

I know some say I am mild in temperament and restrained in speech. But I’ve always believed this country needs more truth-speakers, responsible doers, and builders — not just slogan-shouters. If my efforts have preserved even a sliver of space for reform, upheld a fragment of market principles, or earned a bit more tolerance in society, then I have not failed my duty. But I remain regretful for not having done more to ensure your lives are more secure, institutions more transparent, and speech freer. That is my apology — and my unfinished responsibility.

Like an ephemeral mayfly in the vast world, I am keenly aware of my insignificance and limitations. Yet I entrust all my thoughts and wishes to this land and its people. May every citizen of China grow up in a society governed by law, justice, and hope. May people on this land speak freely, choose independently, and live with peace of mind. I may now return to silence, but you remain in this world. May this letter — like an unextinguished glimmer — light the path ahead for us all.

Spring 2023 — Respectfully, Li Keqiang

Hu Liren also revealed that he met Li Keqiang twice between 2003 and 2006 due to his work, once in Henan and once in Liaoning.

As a member of a government-invited domestic investment advisory group, Hu participated in relevant local discussions. He says both encounters left a profound impression on him. After Li’s sudden and suspicious death, Hu felt deeply unsettled. This sense of moral duty compelled him to pursue the truth.

Since Li Keqiang’s passing, Hu has continued to use his social connections to investigate what happened. Over the past year, more clues have emerged, and Hu claims he has come into contact with several key informants and crucial documents. He stated that these materials will be gradually made public in the future, so those who care about the case can understand the full truth.

(Originally published by People News)