High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Zhou Enlai (pinyin: Zhōu Ēnl i; Wade-Giles: Chou En-lai; IPA: 5 March 1898 - 8 January 1976) was the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, serving from October 1949 until his death in January 1976. Zhou served under Mao Zedong and was instrumental in consolidating the control of the Communist Party's rise to power, forming foreign policy, and developing the Chinese economy.