Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday sent a message of condolences to Burundi's President-elect Evariste Ndayishimiye, over the passing of President Pierre Nkurunziza.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people and in his own name, Xi expressed deep condolences over the death of Nkurunziza and extended sincere sympathies to his family and the Burundian people.

Xi said that President Nkurunziza is an outstanding politician, leading the Burundian people to safeguard national sovereignty, oppose foreign interference, promote national peace, stability and development, and had won the love of the Burundian people.

During his lifetime, President Nkurunziza was committed to promoting the traditional friendship and political mutual trust between China and Burundi, and made important contributions to the in-depth development of the all-weather partnership between the two countries, said Xi.

His death was not only a major loss for the Burundi people, but also a major loss for the cause of China-Burundi friendship. China cherishes the friendship between the two countries and is willing to continue to work together with Burundi to promote the in-depth development of friendly cooperative relations between the two sides and better benefit the two countries and the two peoples, Xi added.

(Cover image: Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza attend a campaign rally in Gitega, central Burundi, April 27, 2020. /Xinhua)