BEIJING, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese netizens on Friday mourned the passing of former South African President Nelson Mandela, who has died at the age of 95.

China's major web portals have devoted special sections to Mandela, promising retrospectives on his life and live broadcasts of his funeral.

At the Twitter-like weibo.com, a leading Chinese social network, more than 373,000 people have joined the Mandela discussion as of 3:30 p.m..

Many of the users reposted Mandela's mottos such as "It always seems impossible until it's done," "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it" and "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

A netizen with the screen name "Lwensuoweiwen" said, "During the great life of Mandela, he always fought for human equality and freedom and for the due rights and interests of common people. He acted with resentment and hatred toward apartheid. We pay respect to him!"

In 1990, Hong Kong rock band Beyond had a hit with "Glorious Years," a song about anti-racism and the struggles of Mandela.

And "Glorious Years" was clicked at a high rate again today by Chinese netizens.

"Milanadongzaishengxiluoshouwang" wrote on weibo.com that "The classic song carries my grief, and I will listen to it again to recall the great Mandela."

On 163.com, another major social network in China, "lgm761115" wrote that "Freedom shows us a road forward on which we commemorate [Mandela's] glorious years."

Anti-apartheid hero Mandela rose to become South Africa's first black president after serving 27 years in prison. He is regarded as a "founding father" of South Africa and an outstanding statesman around the world.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a written press release that Mandela made historic contributions to the establishment and development of China-South Africa relations, and praised him as "an old friend of the Chinese people."

"We express deep condolences over the passing of Mr. Mandela and convey sincere sympathy to the South African government and people and to Mr. Mandela's family," Hong said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping also expressed deep grief over the news, and extended sympathies in a message of condolence to his South African counterpart, Jacob Zuma.

Xi noted that Mandela led the South African people through arduous struggles to the anti-apartheid victory, making a historic contribution to the new South Africa.

Mandela, who visited China twice, was one of the founders of China-South Africa relations, and an active champion of bilateral friendship and cooperation, according to Xi.

The president stressed that he will continue to work with Zuma to consolidate and develop the China-South Africa partnership.

At the beginning of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's talks with visiting French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, Li likewise expressed deep grief over Mandela's passing.