President Jiang Zemin Pays Tribute to AssadPresident Jiang Zemin Sunday paid tribute to Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, describing him as an "outstanding leader.""President Assad was an outstanding leader of Syria, who contributed his whole life to Syria's prosperity and his people's well-being," Jiang said in a message to Assad's son, Bashar al-Assad. "Under his leadership, the Syrian government and people scored significant achievements on safeguarding Syria's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and on economic development and national construction." Jiang expressed "profound condolences" on behalf of the Chinese government and people to Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian people. President Assad in his lifetime had attached much importance to relations with China, Jiang said. "His death is a great loss to Syria. For China, it means the loss of a respectful friend." "I believe the Syrian government and people would definitely continue the work left by President Assad and make more achievements." Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said Sunday in a statement that Chinese government expressed its deep condolences over the death of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad who died of a heart attack on Saturday at the age of 69. Zhu said that President Assad was the outstanding leader of Syria who has contributed all his life to the development of the country and the happiness of the Syrian people. |
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