Body of senior national political adviser Chen Wu cremated

BEIJING -- The body of Chen Wu, vice-chairman of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was cremated in Beijing on Friday.

President Xi Jinping and other senior leaders of the Communist Party of China and the state, including Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng, bid farewell to Chen at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery on Friday morning.

Amid solemn music, they walked slowly toward Chen's body and stood in silent tribute. They then paid their final respects with three bows and shook hands with Chen's family members.

Chen died of illness on Aug 24 in Beijing at the age of 72.

Chen was extolled in an obituary as an excellent Party member, a loyal communist fighter, and an outstanding leader in ethnic affairs and economic construction.

Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng and Hu Jintao, among others, had either visited Chen when he was in hospital or expressed deep condolences and offered sincere sympathies to his family through various means after his passing.