China Railway Construction chairman Chen Fenjian dead at 58 after reported fall from building
- Chairman of high-speed rail builder died at the age of 58, sparking a drop in its stock in Shanghai and Hong Kong exchanges
- Caixin magazine and the Paper, a news app, say Chen killed himself by jumping off a building, though there is no official confirmation
Chen Fenjian, who took the helm two years ago, died on Sunday, China Railway said in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Tuesday, without giving more details. Some mainland media reported that he took his own life.
The company is running as normal and will soon appoint a replacement, according to the company statement. Shares of China Railway fell in both Shanghai and Hong Kong exchanges, with declines of up to 4.2 per cent.
While there was no official explanation for Chen’s death, Caixin magazine said he had committed suicide by jumping from a building, citing industry insiders and banking executives who do business with China Railway.
An official from the investor relations department of China Railway, who would not give his name, declined to comment on the media reports.