President Jiang Zemin, Premier Zhu Rongji and Vice Premier Qian Qichen Sunday expressed their sadness at the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi.
The Chinese leaders, in a telegram of condolences sent to Obuchi's wife Chizuko, also spoke highly of Obuchi's contribution to the establishment and the development of friendly ties between China and Japan.
On the same day, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan also sent a telegram of condolences to Chizuko.
Obuchi, who had been in a coma for six weeks after suffering a stroke, died Sunday of a cerebral infarction at a Tokyo hospital. He was 62.
President Jiang Zemin, Premier Zhu Rongji and Vice Premier Qian Qichen Sunday expressed their sadness at the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi.