China expresses condolences on Chavez's death

BEIJING - Chinese leaders Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping have expressed deep condolences on the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Wednesday.

Hua said at a daily press briefing that Hu Jintao, China's president, and Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, have each sent condolence messages to Venezuela's Acting President Nicolas Maduro.

She said Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), also sent a message of condolences to Diosdado Cabello, president of the Venezuelan Congress.

"President Chavez was an outstanding leader of Venezuela and a good friend of the Chinese people," Hua said, adding that Chavez made significant contributions to advancing the friendly and cooperative relations between China and Venezuela.

The CPC, the Chinese government and people highly treasure the time-honored friendship between the two countries, according to the spokeswoman.

She added that China is ready to work with Venezuela to continuously deepen bilateral strategic partnership based on common development so as to bring benefits to their people.

Chavez died on Tuesday in a military hospital in Caracas.