Remains of former top legislator cremated

Xi Jinping expresses deep condolences to a family member of Wu Bangguo in Beijing on Monday. The remains of Wu, former chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, China's top legislature, were cremated on Monday. (JU PENG/XINHUA)

The remains of Wu Bangguo, former chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, China's top legislature, were cremated on Monday in Beijing.

Party and State leaders, including Xi Jinping, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng, paid their final respects to Wu at Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery. Hu Jintao sent a wreath to express his condolences over Wu's passing.

Wu died of illness in Beijing on Oct 8 at the age of 84.

Flags at Tian'anmen Square and other key facilities across the country, including in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, as well as Chinese embassies and consulates, were flown at half-staff on Monday to mourn Wu's passing.

Wu had served as a member of the Political Bureau and a member of the Secretariat of the 14th Communist Party of China Central Committee, a member of the Political Bureau of the 15th CPC Central Committee, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 16th and 17th central committees of the CPC, vice-premier of the State Council, and chairman of the Standing Committee of the 10th and 11th NPCs.

He was extolled as an excellent CPC member, a time-tested and loyal communist soldier, and an outstanding proletarian revolutionist, statesman and leader of the Party and State.