The Xinhua News Agency is reporting that sources say Hangzhou mayor Shao Zhanwei, a deputy at the 12th National Party Congress, died of a “sudden illness” in Beijing this morning.
All other details are sparse, but another report identifies the sudden illness as a heart attack.
It was just yesterday that Shao spoke about Wen Jiabao’s work report speech and mentioned the need for “strengthening the foundation for the development of agriculture and rural areas and promoting the integration of urban and rural development.” He added that promoting urban and rural integration should be the starting point of town-building.
More details as they come in.
(H/T George Ding)