Leaders send condolences over Kohl

President Xi Jinping expressed condolences over the death of former German chancellor Helmut Kohl on Saturday, saying that Chinese people will never forget their "old friend" for his consistent commitment to promoting China-Germany relations.

Analysts said that Kohl had set the foundation for the development of mutually beneficial and friendly China-Germany relations, which has been greatly significant to the current ties between the two countries and their joint efforts to boost free trade and oppose protectionism.

In condolence messages to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Angela Merkel, Xi spoke highly of Kohl's positive contributions to the development of China-Germany relations, as well as his understanding and support for the Chinese people to realize complete national reunification.