Breaking | Former China Communist Party senior official Qiao Shi dies at 91

Former chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee Qiao Shi , known as a moderate reformist, died in Beijing yesterday morning aged 91.

Xinhua reported Qiao died of an unspecified illness for which he was being treated.

Qiao was a member of the Politburo Standing Committee - the Communist Party's top decision-making body - from 1987 to 1997, at a time when the party was led by Zhao Ziyang and then Jiang Zemin . A statement by the Central Committee called Qiao a "time-tested and loyal communist soldier" and an "outstanding proletarian revolutionist".

Qiao was considered a political rival of former president Jiang in the 1980s, and seen as a contender for the top leadership. But Jiang became president in 1993, while Qiao took up the position of NPC chairman.

While there, he tried to rid it of its image as a rubber-stamp body, insisting the institution had a crucial role to play in establishing the rule of law. He oversaw its work in economic legislation and strongly advocated for strengthening the mainland's legal system. Qiao retired in March 1998 and since then remained out of the limelight.

"Everyone should do things according to the law. The constitution and the party constitution both stipulate that the party should also act within the boundaries laid down by the law," he was quoted as saying during an inspection visit to Guizhou province in 1994.

Qiao also called for a rejuvenation of the leadership. "It is only when young cadres are given the chance for promotion that China will have hope for the future," he reportedly said at a private function.