President Xi Jinping and China’s leadership pay final tribute to former premier Li Keqiang
- President leads top party and state leaders to pay last respects as flags fly at half mast across the country
- Xi joined by Premier Li Qiang, the Politburo Standing Committee and Vice-President Han Zheng
The ceremony for Li, who was 68, was held at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing on Thursday morning, a week after his body was moved to the capital city following his sudden death from a heart attack in the early hours of last Friday morning in Shanghai.
Li’s body was cremated on Thursday.
Accompanied by his wife, Peng Liyuan, Xi bowed three times in front of Li’s casket, which was covered by a party flag.
He shook hands with Li’s wife, Cheng Hong, a respected university professor, to express deep condolences, according to footage from state broadcaster CCTV.
Xi was followed by Premier Li Qiang and they were joined by the entire Politburo Standing Committee, the party’s top decision-making body, as shown in the state media. Vice-President Han Zheng followed.
Former president Hu Jintao, whose working relationship with Li Keqiang dates back to the 1980s when he was Li’s boss at the Communist Youth League, did not attend the farewell ceremony but sent flowers in tribute, state media said.
