Late former senior political advisor cremated

CHANGSHA, March 9 (Xinhua) -- The body of Mao Zhiyong, former vice chairman of the National committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), was cremated Saturday in Changsha, capital city of central China's Hunan Province.

Mao died of illness at the age of 90 on March 4 in Hunan.

Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, Wang Qishan, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao as well as other senior officials had either visited Mao when he was in the hospital or offered their condolences after his death.

Entrusted by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central committee, Wang Yang, member of the Standing committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central committee and chairman of the CPPCC National committee, paid the final respect at the service in Changsha.

Wang stood in silent tribute and bowed three times in front of Mao's body, before shaking hands with Mao's family members and conveying the condolences from Xi, general secretary of the CPC Central committee, and other Party leaders.

Born in 1929 in Hunan and having joined the CPC in 1952, Mao served as the vice chairman of the ninth National committee of the CPPCC. He was also a member of the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th CPC central committees.

Mao was described in the official statement as an excellent CPC member, a loyal Communist fighter, and an outstanding leader in agriculture and economic affairs. Enditem