President Hu Jintao of China expressed his condolences Wednesday over the death of Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa.
In a message to Zambian acting President Rupiah Banda, Hu expressed deep sorrow on behalf of the Chinese government and people to the late president's family and all of Zambia.
Mwanawasa was an outstanding leader and statesman of Zambia and a close friend of the Chinese, Hu said, noting that he had visited China several times.
While adhering to the one China policy, Mwanawasa had been dedicated to promoting communication and cooperation between the two countries, Hu added.
Mwanawasa, deeply loved by Zambians, had also won the respect of the Chinese people by making significant contributions to the development of Sino-Zambian relations and deepening Sino-African friendship, the Chinese president noted.
The Chinese feel deeply sorry for the loss of a sincere friend like Mwanawasa, Hu said.
China attaches great importance to Sino-Zambian relations, and would continue working with it to promote friendly and cooperative bilateral relations, he pledged.
A former lawyer, Mwanawasa became president of Zambia for the first time in 2001 and won a second term in 2006.
Mwanawasa suffered a stroke on June 29 during an African Union conference in Egypt. He died aged 59 in a Paris hospital early Tuesday.
Source: Xinhua
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