The remains of a former Chinese vice premier, Zou Jiahua, were cremated in Beijing on Thursday.

Mr Zou died on February 16 in Beijing at the age of 99.

Xi Jinping, along with other party and state leaders including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, and Han Zheng, bade farewell to Mr Zou at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery.

Amid solemn music, they walked slowly toward Mr Zou’s body and stood in silent tribute. They then paid their final respects with three bows, shook hands with Mr Zou’s family, and offered condolences.

The late Zou served as a member of the Political Bureau of the 14th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the ninth National People’s Congress.

He was extolled as an excellent CPC member, a time-tested and loyal communist soldier, a proletarian revolutionist, and an outstanding leader in boosting China’s economic development and national defence industry and advancing the socialist legal system.

Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng, and Hu Jintao either paid Mr Zou a visit while he was in the hospital or mourned him and sent condolences to his family through various means following his passing.

(Xinhua/NAN)