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A new hardback edition of "Zhu Rongji Meets the Press," a collection of talks and interviews given by China’s former premier Zhu Rongji during his term, was published in Beijing on Sept. 8.

The new edition not only includes the content previously published in the 2009 edition, but also features color illustrations and video recordings, which faithfully showcase Zhu’s charisma and wit at five press conferences between 1998 and 2002.

“The book has earned a warm reception from readers since its first publication in 2009. Zhu’s wisdom impressed many readers, who expressed their wish to see a complete set of video recordings of Zhu’s responses to journalists. At the request of the public, we have published this hardcover edition, which was proofread and approved by Zhu himself,” said Huang Shuyan, president of People’s Publishing House, in an interview with Beijing Youth Daily on Sept. 8.

“There are around 260 minutes of video footage in total. This is the first time that video materials on such a large scale have been included in the published work of a Party leader,” said Ren Chao, vice president of People’s Publishing House, in an interview with Beijing Youth Daily.

The book has sold more than 1.5 million copies since its first publication, and was translated into both English and Korean. Zhu has donated all royalties from the book to a foundation that promotes education and poverty alleviation throughout China. Thanks to Zhu's donations, the foundation has so far been able to offer nutritious meals to 2,200 impoverished students in 12 rural schools, and further assisted 300 orphans and students in need in Hunan Provincein Hunan province, People’s Daily Online reported on Sept. 8.

Zhu Rongji acted as China’s premier from March 1998 to March 2003. He is an unswerving economic reformer who put China on the path to international economic integration.