BEIJING, Dec. 6 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday expressed deep grief over the passing of former South African President Nelson Mandela, who died Thursday at the age of 95.

In a message of condolences to his South African counterpart, Jacob Zuma, Xi said the Chinese people will always remember his extraordinary contribution to the development of bilateral relations and the cause of human progress.

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Nelson Mandela has died at age of 95

Former South African president Nelson Mandela has died at the age of 95 Thursday, President Jacob Zuma announced.

Chinese premier mourns Nelson Mandela

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday expressed deep grief over the passing of former South African President Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday night in his Johannesburg home at the age of 95.

Video: Faces of Africa 07/02/2012 Finding Mandela (Part 1/ Part 2/ Part 3)

Profile: South Africa's ex-president, anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela

Dubbed as "tata" or "father" in his country, Mandela, who had spent 27 years in prison, was widely regarded as an anti-apartheid activist and South Africa's first black president after more than three centuries of white rule.

UN mourns passing of Nelson Mandela

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon Thursday mourned the passing of former South African President Nelson Mandela and gave his "deepest condolence" to the family of Mandela and the people of South Africa and Africa as a whole.

S.African gov't announces state funeral for Mandela

President Jacob Zuma said in a statement "Our beloved Mandela will be accorded a state funeral."

On Thursday evening, Zuma announced that Mandela passed away peacefully around 20:50 p.m. local time on Dec. 5

"Flags around the country will be flown at half-mast from Friday until after the funeral as we gather to pay our last respects," said the president.

Obama says Mandela "achieves more than could be expected of any man"

U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday mourned the death of Nelson Mandela, saying the former South African president has achieved more than "could be expected of any man."

In a televised speech made at the White House, Obama hailed Mandela as a man who has made real his ideal of "a democratic and free society" in which all live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.