The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday expressed condolences to the family of former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev, who died on Tuesday evening after a severe and prolonged illness.

"Mr. Mikhail Gorbachev made positive contributions to the normalization of relations between China and the Soviet Union. We mourn his passing and extend our condolences to his family," said Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, at a daily press briefing.