Society

Mourning ceremony held for Chinese democratic party founder

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-01-15 15:46

BEIJING - A mourning ceremony for the founder and former leader of the China Association for Promoting Democracy (CAPD), Lei Jieqiong, who died of illness in Beijing on Sunday aged 106, was held Friday afternoon.

Du Qinglin, head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, addressed the ceremony held in Beijing.

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Du noted that Lei was a revered leader of democratic parties and one of the founders of the Chinese political system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Her death was a huge loss to the nation and people, he said.

Lei, who held a master's degree from the University of Southern California, was a well-known educator and law and sociology scholar.

She was chairwoman of the 7th, 8th and 9th Central Committee of the CAPD and the honorary president of the 10th and 11th CAPD Central Committee.

A close friend of the Communist Party of China, Lei served as vice chairperson of the 6th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

She also served as the vice chairperson of the standing committees of the 7th and 8th National People's Congress.