A funeral was held for Liu Xiaobo on Saturday morning in Shenyang, where his body was cremated, according to a spokesman of the Shenyang municipal government in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The spokesman briefed the media about the funeral and cremation service in a press conference, saying Liu's wife, relatives and friends attended.

Liu passed away on Thursday from liver cancer, and his funeral and cremation were held according to the wishes of Liu's family and local customs, the spokesman said. He added that the ceremony should be held within three days of death, according to local customs.

Earlier, the Chinese Foreign Ministry refuted foreign criticism over the country's treatment of Liu, saying he received only the best treatment during his fight against cancer.

“Liu Xiaobo was a criminal serving his sentence according to the law. Whether he could go to a foreign country for treatment was not only a legal matter, but also a medical one. It is fair to say that China has given Liu its best treatment. Foreign doctors who joined the medical team have also given positive comment on our efforts,” Geng Shuang, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Friday.