Former Peruvian President Alan Garcia, who killed himself with a gunshot to his head on Wednesday, was a friend to China and played a crucial role in promoting bilateral relations, China's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday while expressing "deep condolences" on his death.

The Peruvian leader "had long been friendly to China and promoting China-Peru bilateral relations. During his time in office, he pushed for the establishment of a strategic partnership and the conclusion of a free trade agreement (FTA) between China and Peru and thus made positive contributions to bilateral friendship, deeper exchange, and cooperation in various fields," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said in a press conference in Beijing.

"We'd like to express our deep condolences on his passing and sincere sympathy to his family," he added.

Related story: Peru's ex-president Garcia kills himself to avoid arrest in Odebrecht probe

The Chinese foreign ministry's comments came as thousands of Peruvians on Thursday said goodbye to Garcia, who in a dramatic turn of events a day earlier, shot himself in the head as police came knocking at his residence in capital Lima to arrest him over allegedly receiving bribes from Brazilian builder Odebrecht.

The 69-year-old leader, a towering and charismatic figure who played a central role in Peruvian politics for more than three decades, later died in a hospital.

Peru's President Martin Vizcarra declared three days of national mourning, beginning Wednesday, and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast at the country's Congress and other public buildings to honor his predecessor and former lawmaker.

However, that didn't stop some of Garcia's most resolute followers shouting "Vizcarra is a murderer," in support of the ex-president's recent allegations that his prosecution was politically motivated.

Prosecutors investigating Brazilian builder Odebrecht had gathered enough evidence to secure a judicial order this week to hold Garcia in pre-trial detention while they prepared charges against him, prompting the former president's suicide.

Friends, allies, and leaders across the political spectrum paid homage to Garcia at the headquarters of his American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA) party, one of Latin America's oldest political parties, and one which twice helped usher Garcia to the presidency.

Garcia's death has shocked the Andean country that had watched his transition from a fiery leftist who was elected president at age 36 to a free-market crusader who won a second term in 2006. 

Key role in China-Peru strategic partnership

It was during Garcia's second term that former Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Peru in November 2008 and elevated bilateral ties to the level of a strategic partnership and concluded talks that paved the way for the final FTA deal between the two nations that came into effect on March 1, 2010.

Earlier in March 2008, Garcia had visited China. During his meeting with Hu in Beijing, Garcia famously claimed that "Peru's development is tied to China," pushing for his country to become one of the major destinations of Chinese investment in Latin America. He also reiterated Peruvian government's support to the one-China policy.

During Hu's return visit, Garcia described China as "a reliable friend" of Peru while extending Lima's support to China's development, according to a Xinhua report.

Hu acknowledged that the establishment of strategic partnership symbolized that bilateral ties had entered a new era of rapid development.

With Garcia's suicide, an era in the political history of Peru might have come to an abrupt end.

(With input from agencies)

(Cover: A file photo of Peru's then newly-elected President Alan Garcia after receiving the presidential red-and-white sash during his inauguration ceremony in Lima, Peru, July 28, 2006. /Reuters Photo)