Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, March 25, 2003
Chinese Leaders Pay Respects to Dead Weapons Inspector
The funeral ceremony of the Chinese weapons inspector Yu Jianxing, who died in Iraq on March 14, was held Monday in Beijing, with about 1,000 people, including family and colleagues, in attendance.
The funeral ceremony of the Chinese weapons inspector Yu Jianxing, who died in Iraq on March 14, was held Monday in Beijing, with about 1,000 people, including family and colleagues, in attendance.
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Vice-President Zeng Qinghong sent wreaths in tribute to the 38-year-old inspector, whose portrait was surrounded by flowers and pine branches, a traditional Chinese symbol of life and eternity, and his cinerary urn, below the portrait, was covered with the national flag.
Jiang Zemin, chairman of the Central Military Commission of China, sent a telegram of condolence to Yu's widow, Xu Xinyi, to express his deep sympathy.
At the ceremony, Cao Gangchuan, Defense Minister and chief of general staff of the People's Liberation Army, read out Jiang's telegram and a letter of condolence from UN Secretary-General KofiAnnan.
Cao said Yu's death was a loss to the country and the military, and peace-loving people all over the world had showed their appreciation for Yu's contribution to peace.
The minister praised Yu's expertise and courage in continuing to work in Iraq in the face of imminent war. Yu's achievements had proved to the world that the Chinese people were peace-loving and China had made great contributions to safeguarding world peace.
Yu, a professor of the PLA Anti-chemical Command Engineering College, had taken part in two UN weapons inspection missions in Iraq since 1998. He died in a car accident while returning to Baghdad after completing a routine inspection.