Chinese leaders paid tribute Tuesday to Song Ping, a former senior official of the Chinese Communist Party and former member of its most powerful governing body, who died last week in Beijing at the age of 109.
The Chinese president Xi JinpingPremier Li Qiang and other members of the Politburo Standing Committee attended an official ceremony in his honor. The event, broadcast by state television CCTV, marked the end of a political career that spanned decades and five generations of Chinese leaders.
During the ceremony, officials paused in silence before bowing three times before the body of Song Ping, covered with the red flag of the Chinese Communist Party, before his cremation.
In official tributes, authorities described Song Ping as a leader who dedicated his life to the revolution, the development of the country, and the progress of the People's Republic of China.
An influential figure in the Party apparatus, Song Ping had held several important positions during his career, notably within the central leadership of the Communist Party.
His longevity and political career have made him one of the last representatives of a generation of cadres who participated in different phases of China's modern political history, from the early years of the People's Republic to the present era.
