CRI听力:Chinese Leaders to Attend Lee's Funeral: FM Spokesman

A mourner prays next to a floral tribute to Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew following the announcement of his death at Singapore General Hospital in Singapore, on Monday, March 23, 2015. [Photo: CFP]

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Monday that "Chinese leaders" will attend the state funeral service for the late Singaporean former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who passed away on early Monday morning, March 23, 2015.

The spokesman however did not give out the names of who will attend the funeral service to be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the University Cultural Center, National University of Singapore.

Ahead of that, tributes have been pouring in from around the world following the passing of Lee Kuan Yew.

In a message of condolences, Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed Lee as the founder of Singapore and a strategist and statesman widely respected by the international community.

He was the founder, pioneer and promoter of China-Singapore relations, said Xi.

The death of Lee is a loss to the people of Singapore, and to the international community as well, Xi added.

Lee Kuan Yew,the island-nation's first Prime Minister after independence, maintained close ties with China, making dozens of visits to China from 1976.

In 1993, Lee helped to facilitate the first meeting between mainland officials and the authorities in Taiwan.

Singapore and China established diplomatic ties in 1990.

Described by the Chinese President as "an old friend of the Chinese people," Lee Kuan Yew succumbed to a lung infection after weeks in hospital at the age of 91.

Following his death, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also expressed their condolences on Monday.

The Chinese premier said that as a universally recognized strategist and statesman, and Singapore's founding father and farther of development, as well as an important founder of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Lee Kuan Yew made extraordinary contribution to peace and development in the region.

Singapore had declared a period of national mourning for former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew from Monday to Sunday, the Prime Minister's Office said Monday.

Singapore's Prime Minster Lee Hsien Loong has addressed the nation following the death of his father.

"The first of our founding fathers is no more. He inspired us, gave us courage, kept us together, and brought us here. He fought for our independence, built a nation where there was none, and made us proud to be Singaporeans. We won't see another man like him. To many Singaporeans, and indeed others too, Lee Kuan Yew was Singapore."

As a mark of respect to the late founding prime minister, the state flags on all government buildings will be flown at half-mast for the entire week.

Lee's body will lie in state at Parliament House from Wednesday to Saturday for the public to pay their respects.

Meanwhile, UN chief Ban Ki-moon called Lee a "legendary figure in Asia."

US President Barack Obama also described Lee as "a remarkable man".

Leaders from other Asia-Pacific nations, including Australia, Malaysia, India, and Indonesia have also expressed deep condolences on Lee's death.

For more on the legacy of Lee Kuan Yew, Paul James spoke earlier with Prof. Xiaoming Huang from the Victoria University of Wellington.