Answer
The assertion is that, as Premier, Zhao Ziyang advocated privatizing state-owned enterprises (SOEs). This perspective is rooted in Zhao's broader economic reform program, which sought to decentralize decision-making and introduce market mechanisms into China's socialist economy. By privatizing SOEs, Zhao aimed to increase efficiency, foster competition, and attract foreign investment, ultimately contributing to China's rapid economic growth during his tenure as Premier from 1980 to 1987.