Foreign and Military Affairs

China mourns over death of Alexander Haig

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-02-22 14:23

BEIJING: China on Monday expressed "deep condolence" over the death of former US Secretary of State Alexander Haig for his "positive contribution" to the China-US relationship.

"We deeply mourn over General Haig's death and express sincere condolences to his family," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Monday.

"General Haig has always endeavored to promote the China-US friendship, and has made positive contribution for the development of the bilateral relations," Qin said.

The veteran politician passed away at 85 on February 20 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, from complications associated with an infection.

Haig, who was born in December, 1924, is a retired Army four-star general and served as the State Secretary under President Ronald Reagan form January 22, 1981 to July 5, 1982. He also has served as a top adviser to former presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.

On January 1972, Haig paid his first China visit to make preparation for Nixon's historic visit to China.

In 2009 when China and the United States commemorated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Haig reportedly said he had visited China for more than 50 times since 1972 and would like to be a supporter of the development of China-US relations.