Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao Monday expressed profound shock and grief at the unfortunate demise of King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and other members of the royal family of Nepal.

In response to a relevant question from a journalist, Zhu said King Birendra has enjoyed a high prestige among the Nepalese people, and made every effort throughout his life for Nepal's prosperity and economic and social progress.

As a friend familiar to and respected by the Chinese people, King Birendra has visited China ten times in his life, Zhu noted. "He has made tremendous contributions to the sustained development of the traditional friendly cooperative relations between China and Nepal," he said.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin has expressed his profound regret and grief at the tragedy in a statement, and Premier Zhu Rongji has sent a message of condolences to his Nepalese counterpart, Girija Prasad Koirala, the spokesman added.

(Xinhua 06/04/2001)