Former Chinese premier Wen Jiabao attends the opening ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China October 16, 2022. REUTERS/Thomas Peter 

Retired official Song Ping arrives next to Wen Jiabao, former Chinese premier, Zhang Dejiang, former vice premier, and Zeng Qinghong, former vice president, for the opening ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China October 16, 2022. REUTERS/Thomas Peter 

Soccer Football - E-1 Championship - China v South Korea - Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan - July 20, 2022 South Korea's Won-Sang Um in action with China's Wen Jiabao and Zhu Chenije REUTERS/Issei Kato 

Soccer Football - E-1 Championship - China v South Korea - Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan - July 20, 2022 South Korea's Won-Sang Um in action with China's Wen Jiabao REUTERS/Issei Kato 

China's then Politburo Standing Committee Member Zhou Yongkang (C) walks past Former China's President Hu Jintao (R) and Premier Wen Jiabao as they attend the opening ceremony of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, March 3, 2009. Two influential former Chinese leaders gave their consent for President Xi Jinping to investigate ex-domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang, sources told Reuters, a sign the corruption probe will not open a rift in the ruling Communist Party. Xi's predecessors Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin had approved the formal investigation into Zhou, the most senior Chinese official to be ensnared in a graft scandal since the party swept to power in 1949, two sources with ties to the leadership said. Picture taken on March 3, 2009. To match Exclusive CHINA-CORRUPTION/ REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW) 

Former Chinese Railways Minister Liu Zhijun (C, second row), then Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai (L to Liu) and other senior officers attend a welcoming ceremony with former China's Premier Wen Jiabao (front) outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, May 22, 2006. China handed down a suspended death sentence on a former railways minister for corruption on July 8, 2013, state media said, a case seen as a test of President Xi Jinping's resolve to crack down on pervasive graft. Picture taken May 22, 2006. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: CRIME LAW POLITICS BUSINESS) 

China's newly-elected President Xi Jinping (2nd L) smiles as he leaves together with former Premier Wen Jiabao (L) and newly-elected Premier Li Keqiang (R) after the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 17, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

China's newly-elected Premier Li Keqiang (R), former Premier Wen Jiabao (L) and other delegates clap during the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 17, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

China's newly-elected Premier Li Keqiang (2nd L) arrives for the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) as China's newly-elected President Xi Jinping (2nd R), China's former President Hu Jintao (L) and China's former Premier Wen Jiabao (R) clap at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 17, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

China's newly-elected Premier Li Keqiang (front, 2nd L) shakes hands with China's former Premier Wen Jiabao (front, 3rd L) as China's President Xi Jinping (front, R) and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Yu Zhengsheng (front, L) and other delegates clap during the fifth plenary meeting of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 15, 2013. China's legislature elected Li Keqiang as premier on Friday, installing an English-speaking bureaucrat as the man to lead the world's second-largest economy and combat pressing woes like a frothy housing market and an over-reliance on investment. REUTERS/Barry Huang (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) 

China's President Xi Jinping (front, 2nd L) and China's newly-elected Premier Li Keqiang (front, L) shake hands as China's former Premier Wen Jiabao (front, R) and other delegates clap during the fifth plenary meeting of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 15, 2013. China's legislature elected Li Keqiang as premier on Friday, installing an English-speaking bureaucrat as the man to lead the world's second-largest economy and combat pressing woes like a frothy housing market and an over-reliance on investment. REUTERS/Barry Huang (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) 

Central officials shake hands with China's former Premier Wen Jiabao during the fifth plenary meeting of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 15, 2013. China's legislature elected Li Keqiang as premier on Friday, installing an English-speaking bureaucrat as the man to lead the world's second-largest economy and combat pressing woes like a frothy housing market and an over-reliance on investment. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) 

China's newly-elected President Xi Jinping (L) and China's former Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shake hands during the fifth plenary meeting of National People's Congress (NPC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 15, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

China's former Premier Wen Jiabao leaves after the fifth plenary meeting of National People's Congress (NPC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 15, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

China's newly-elected Premier Li Keqiang shakes hands with China's former Premier Wen Jiabao as other delegates applaud during the fifth plenary meeting of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 15, 2013. China's legislature elected Li as premier on Friday, installing an English-speaking bureaucrat as the man to lead the world's second-largest economy and combat pressing woes like a frothy housing market and an over-reliance on investment. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) 

China's newly-elected Premier Li Keqiang (L) and China's former Premier Wen Jiabao (C) shake hands as China's newly-elected President Xi Jinping claps during the fifth plenary meeting of National People's Congress (NPC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 15, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY ELECTIONS) 

China's newly-elected Premier Li Keqiang (L) and China's former Premier Wen Jiabao shake hands during the fifth plenary meeting of National People's Congress (NPC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 15, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) 

(front row L-R)China's outgoing President Hu Jintao, China's Communist Party Chief Xi Jinping, China's outgoing Premier Wen Jiabao and China's Vice Premier Li Keqiang stand during the national anthem at the closing ceremony of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 12, 2013. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

A delegate of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) sleeps in the gallery as China's Premier Wen Jiabao delivers the government work report during the opening ceremony of National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS SOCIETY) 

A delegate of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) sleeps in the gallery as China's Premier Wen Jiabao delivers the government work report during the opening ceremony of National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS SOCIETY) 

A delegate of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) yawns in the gallery as China's Premier Wen Jiabao delivers the government work report during the opening ceremony of National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

A delegate of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) yawns in the gallery as China's Premier Wen Jiabao delivers the government work report during the opening ceremony of National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS SOCIETY) 

A delegate of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) yawns in the gallery as China's Premier Wen Jiabao delivers the government work report during the opening ceremony of National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS SOCIETY) 

A delegate of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) yawns in the gallery as China's Premier Wen Jiabao delivers the government work report during the opening ceremony of National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS SOCIETY) 

A delegate of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) yawns in the gallery as China's Premier Wen Jiabao delivers the government work report during the opening ceremony of National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS SOCIETY) 

A delegate of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) yawns in the gallery as China's Premier Wen Jiabao delivers the government work report during the opening ceremony of National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS SOCIETY) 

A delegate (L) of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) yawns in the gallery as China's Premier Wen Jiabao delivers the government work report during the opening ceremony of National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS SOCIETY) 

A combination photograph shows delegates of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) yawning and sleeping in the gallery as China's Premier Wen Jiabao (not pictured) delivers the government work report during the opening ceremony of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

China's President Hu Jintao (L) watches as China's Premier Wen Jiabao (C) shakes hands with China's Communist Party Chief Xi Jinping (R) during the opening ceremony of National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

China's Premier Wen Jiabao bows after delivering a speech during the opening ceremony of National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

China's Premier Wen Jiabao (shown on screen) speaks as delegates listen during the opening ceremony of National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

China's Premier Wen Jiabao (front L) shakes hands with China's Vice Premier Li Keqiang as other delegates watch during the opening ceremony of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

A general view inside the Great Hall of the People during China's Premier Wen Jiabao's speech in the opening ceremony of the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

A delegate yawns as 2012 Nobel Prize Laureate for Literature Mo Yan (top, 2nd R), who is also a delegate, sits together with other delegates as they listen to China's Premier Wen Jiabao's speech during the opening ceremony of National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS MEDIA TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

Reporters take pictures of China's Premier Wen Jiabao (front) as he bows with China's President Hu Jintao (second row, 4th R), China's Communist Party Chief Xi Jinping (second row, 3rd R) and other delegates looking on, before his speech during the opening ceremony of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

China's Premier Wen Jiabao delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

China's Premier Wen Jiabao (C) walks past as China's President Hu Jintao (front, L), China's Communist Party Chief Xi Jinping (front, R) and other delegates clap during the opening ceremony of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

(From L to R) China's President Hu Jintao, China's Communist Party Chief Xi Jinping, China's Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice-Premier Li Keqiang sing the national anthem during the opening ceremony of National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

China's Premier Wen Jiabao speaks as China's President Hu Jintao, China's Communist Party Chief Xi Jinping and other delegates listen during the opening ceremony of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

China's Communist Party Chief Xi Jinping (L), China's Premier Wen Jiabao (C) and other delegates clap as China's Vice-Premier Li Keqiang (R) arrives at his seat during the opening ceremony of National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 5, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

China's Communist Party Chief Xi Jinping shakes hands with China's Premier Wen Jiabao as China's President Hu Jintao shakes hands with a delegate during the opening ceremony of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 3, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

China's President Hu Jintao (front row, L) wipes his face as China's Communist Party Chief Xi Jinping (front row, C) and China's Premier Wen Jiabao (front row, R), together with delegates attend the opening ceremony of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 3, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

China's President Hu Jintao (2nd row, 2nd L), China's Communist Party Chief Xi Jinping (2nd row, 3rd L), China's Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd row, 3rd R), China's Vice-Premier Li Keqiang (2nd row, 2nd R) and other top leaders and delegates sing the national anthem during the opening ceremony of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 3, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS) 

Portraits of China's President Hu Jintao (L) and Premier Wen Jiabao are displayed on a tricycle at a demolished residential site where new skyscrapers will be built in Beijing February 18, 2013. China's government has spent more than two years implementing policies to rein in speculative real estate activity that has seen prices pushed far beyond the reach of many middle class citizens, fueling social discontent. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY BUSINESS) 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) and Kyrgyzstan's Prime Minister Zhantoro Satybaldiyev inspect the guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony at Manas Airport outside Bishkek December 4, 2012. Wen Jiabao is in Kyrgyzstan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. REUTERS/Vladimir Pirogov (KYRGYZSTAN - Tags: POLITICS) 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) shakes hands with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev during a meeting at the Ala-Archa state residence outside Bishkek December 4, 2012. Wen Jiabao is in Kyrgyzstan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. REUTERS/Vladimir Pirogov (KYRGYZSTAN - Tags: POLITICS) 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd L) and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (2nd R) watch Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (L) and Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul (R) during a signing ceremony of Thai-Chinese cooperation at the Government House in Bangkok, November 21, 2012. Wen is on a two-day official visit to Thailand to strengthen bonds with Bangkok. REUTERS/Rungroj Yongrit/Pool (THAILAND - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS) 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) is greeted by Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra during a meeting at the Government House in Bangkok, November 21, 2012. Wen is on a two-day official visit to Thailand to strengthen bonds with Bangkok. REUTERS/Rungroj Yongrit/Pool (THAILAND - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS) 

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (C) presents souvenirs to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) during a meeting at the Government House in Bangkok, November 21, 2012. Wen is on a two-day official visit to Thailand to strengthen bonds with Bangkok. REUTERS/Rungroj Yongrit/Pool (THAILAND - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS) 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) is accompanied by Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (R) during a signing ceremony of Thai-Chinese cooperation at the Government House in Bangkok, November 21, 2012. Wen is on a two-day official visit to Thailand to strengthen bonds with Bangkok. REUTERS/Rungroj Yongrit/Pool (THAILAND - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS) 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) is accompanied by Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (R) during a signing ceremony of Thai-Chinese cooperation at the Government House in Bangkok, November 21, 2012. Wen is on a two-day official visit to Thailand to strengthen bonds with Bangkok. REUTERS/Rungroj Yongrit/Pool (THAILAND - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS) 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) is greeted by Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra during a meeting at the Government House in Bangkok, November 21, 2012. Wen is on a two-day official visit to Thailand to strengthen bonds with Bangkok. REUTERS/Rungroj Yongrit/Pool (THAILAND - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS) 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra review a guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony at the Government House in Bangkok November 21, 2012. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom (THAILAND - Tags: POLITICS) 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) talks to Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra during a welcoming ceremony at the Government House in Bangkok November 21, 2012. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom (THAILAND - Tags: POLITICS) 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) walks with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra during a welcoming ceremony at the Government House in Bangkok November 21, 2012. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom (THAILAND - Tags: POLITICS) 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) walks with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra during a welcoming ceremony at the Government House in Bangkok November 21, 2012. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom (THAILAND - Tags: POLITICS) 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra review a guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony at the Government House in Bangkok November 21, 2012. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom (THAILAND - Tags: POLITICS) 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (not pictured) review a guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony at the Government House in Bangkok November 21, 2012. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom (THAILAND - Tags: POLITICS) 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra review a guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony at the Government House in Bangkok November 21, 2012. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom (THAILAND - Tags: POLITICS)