China praised Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew as “an Asian statesman of unique influence” on Monday after he died aged 91.
“He was also a strategist with both Eastern values and international perspective,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement posted online.
Lee was the “creator and founder” of ties between the city-state, which is ethnically majority Chinese, and the world’s most populous country, Hong said, lauding him for making “historic contributions” to the relationship.
China expressed “deep condolences and sincere solicitude to the Singaporean government, its people and the relatives of Mr Lee Kuan Yew for his passing”, Hong said.
Lee dominated Singaporean politics for more than half a century, and his model of discipline allied to economic growth served as an example to China’s Communist leaders as they embarked on reforms.
For his part Lee identified China as a driver of world economic growth early on, and advised leaders of both Beijing and the West on each other.
Chinese web portal Netease said Lee had visited the country 33 times since 1976.
China’s President Xi Jinping also praised Lee as an “old friend of the Chinese people”. Xi said Lee, who was ethnically Chinese, was “widely respected by the international community as a strategist and a statesman” and expressed “sincere condolences” to his relatives.
Lee was the “founder, pioneer and promoter of China-Singapore relations”, Xi said in a message sent to Singapore President Tony Tan, China’s foreign ministry said on its website.
Story: Agence France-Presse
Photo: Lee Kuan Yew Facebook Page
