Senior Chinese leaders joined with people from various walks of
life to pay their last respects to Dai Ailian, one of China's most
revered dancers, in Beijing on Friday.
Dai, who died of illness on February 9 in Beijing at the age of
90, was cremated later in the day.
Dai, honorary president of the Chinese Dancers Association, was
regarded as one of the forerunners and founders of contemporary
Chinese dance.
Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the
Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (
CPC) Central Committee, bowed in front of the remains of Dai
and then shook hands with her relatives to express his
condolences.
Liu Yunshan, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central
Committee, and several other senior officials also went to the
Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in western Beijing to pay their
last respects.
During her illness and after her death, Chinese leaders Hu
Jintao, Wen
Jiabao, Zeng
Qinghong and Huang Ju
have all extended their regards and condolences in various
ways.
(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2006)
