Xi sends condolences over former French president

President Xi Jinping on Friday extended a message of condolences to his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, over the death of former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing, describing the politician as an active promoter of bilateral friendship.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi expressed deep condolences to Macron, saying that Giscard d'Estaing, who was France's president from 1974 to 1981, had played an important role in promoting European integration.

Giscard d'Estaing loved Chinese culture, proactively promoted friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, and made important contributions to the development of bilateral relations, he said.

Xi stressed that he highly values the friendship between China and France, and is willing to work with Macron to continue moving the comprehensive bilateral strategic partnership forward.

On Thursday evening, Macron declared Dec 9 as a day of national mourning for Giscard d'Estaing, who died of COVID-19 at the age of 94 at his home in the Loire region on Wednesday.

"I belong to a generation that was born under his presidency and that, no doubt, has not always understood to what extent Valery Giscard d'Estaing had changed France for it," Macron said in a televised speech paying tribute to the late former president.

"His legacy of modernity will remain. You can be certain that I will do everything, together with you, to keep that flame of progress and optimism alive."

Under strict health protocols amid the coronavirus epidemic, condolences may be offered in town halls and at Paris' Orsay Museum this weekend. A solemn homage will be organized at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Feb 2, the day of Giscard d'Estaing's birth, Macron said.

Giscard d'Estaing was recently hospitalized several times for heart problems. His last public appearance was in September 2019, when he attended the funeral of Jacques Chirac, another former president.

Giscard d'Estaing worked with Germany's former chancellor, Helmut Schmidt, to create the European Monetary System in 1979, which later gave birth to the euro.

Xinhua contributed to this story.