BEIJING – A veteran Chinese Communist Party official who became the oldest member ever to serve on the nation’s highest governing council has passed away at 109 years old, China’s state media announced Wednesday.
Song Ping died in the Chinese capital following an illness, state-run Xinhua news agency confirmed.
The party veteran, who entered the world in 1917, played a significant role in China’s second wave of communist leadership during the transformative period when Deng Xiaoping implemented sweeping changes following Mao Zedong’s nearly three-decade reign.
Song gained recognition for identifying and promoting Hu Jintao, who would later become China’s president before the current leader Xi Jinping took power.
From 1989 through 1992, Song held a position on the Politburo Standing Committee, which represents the highest level of authority within China’s governing structure.
Throughout his career, he occupied important roles within both party and government institutions.
Among his notable positions, Song served as personal aide to Zhou Enlai, who became the People’s Republic of China’s inaugural prime minister in 1949 and remained in that role until his passing in 1976.
