Comrade Zhao Ziyang, who passed away on January 17 at the age of 85, was cremated at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in western Beijing Saturday morning.

On behalf of the leaders of the central authorities, Comrade Jia Qinglin and other senior officials including He Guoqiang, Wang Gang and Hua Jianmin, were at the cemetery to bid farewell to Comrade Zhao. They also expressed condolences to Zhao's family.

Zhao died of illness in a Beijing hospital after failing to respond to all treatment.

Born in October 1919 in Huaxian County of Central China's Henan Province, Comrade Zhao joined the Communist Youth League of China in March 1932 and started his revolutionary career in 1937. He joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in February 1938.

During the years of revolutionary wars and the period of socialist construction, Comrade Zhao successively served as the chief leader of the CPC committees at the county, prefectural and provincial levels. In the early years of China's reform and opening-up drive, he successively held important leading positions of the CPC Central Committee and the State, making contributions to the cause of the Party and the people.

In the political turbulence which took place in the late spring and early summer of 1989, Comrade Zhao committed serious mistakes.

When Comrade Zhao suffered from illness and when his physical condition was turning worse, the central authorities instructed relevant departments to make proper arrangements for his care and treatment.

A special medical team was formed to treat his diseases and save his life by every means.

In the last days of Comrade Zhao, Comrade Zeng Qinghong had gone to the hospital to visit him on behalf of the leaders of the central authorities.

The General Office and the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, the General Office of the State Council, the General Office of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and other departments sent wreaths to the cemetery.

Comrade Zhao's family, former working associates, old friends, representatives from his hometown and the places he once worked, and representatives from various Party and government departments, also went to the cemetery to bid farewell.

(China Daily 01/31/2005 page5)