Chinese VP attends state funeral of Lee Kuan Yew

Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy and Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao (L) pays respect to Singapore's former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore's Parliament House, March 28, 2015.(Xinhua/Then Chih Wey)

Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao on Sunday attended the state funeral of Singapore's former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew as a special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Li conveyed deep condolences for the passing of Lee on behalf of President Xi, the Chinese government and the Chinese people.

President Xi expressed his sadness on Lee Kuan Yew's departure in the message to Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Xi said Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew is a strategist and statesman respected across the world.

Expressing his respect to Lee Kuan Yew, Xi said, Lee was also an old friend of the Chinese people and the founder, pioneer and promoter of China-Singapore relations.

Lee and the old generations of Chinese leaders jointly set the direction of China-Singapore ties, said Xi, adding that Lee made great contributions to enhancing friendship of the two peoples and broadening bilateral cooperation.

Stressing that China attaches great importance to the development of friendly cooperative relations with Singapore, Xi said, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of both diplomatic relations, China is willing to work with Singapore to continue traditional friendship between the two countries, consolidate their good-neighborly ties and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation so as to benefit the two countries and peoples.

During his three-day visit in Singapore, Li paid tribute to Lee Kuan Yew at the Parliament House on Saturday, and met with Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean respectively.