Germany bids farewell to ex-chancellor Helmut Schmidt

Honor guards escort the coffin of former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt during the official memorial service in Hamburg, Germany, on Nov. 23, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

The governing Mayor of Hamburg Olaf Scholz stressed that not only Hamburg grieves, but Germany and the whole world.

"We have lost a giant, politically and humanly," said Scholz, adding that Schmidt had always taken responsibility for his action.

After the funeral, Schmidt's coffin received a large military escort by the guard battalion of the German armed forces. The coffin was then transferred through Hamburg to cemetery Ohlsdorf.

Schmidt died on Nov. 10 in his house in Hamburg. He was Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1974 to 1982.

Known as "an old friend of the Chinese people," Schmidt was also a pioneer and promoter of Sino-German relations.

Schmidt had kept an eye on China's development in recent decades in all respects, and shared his views on the current and future development of China in several books.