GUANGZHOU – China conducted formal funeral proceedings on Sunday for Wang Bingqian, the esteemed former state leader who passed away at age 100 on December 8. The cremation ceremony took place in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, with senior government officials paying their respects to the veteran politician who held multiple high-ranking positions throughout his career.
Wang served the nation in several pivotal roles, including State Councilor and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislative body. His decades of public service spanned critical periods of the country’s economic reform and development.
The ceremony was attended by Zhao Leji, Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, alongside other dignitaries. The gathering at Guangzhou Funeral Home represented a formal state recognition of Wang’s contributions to national governance.
Prior to the funeral, China’s current leadership including Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng, and former leader Hu Jintao had either visited Wang during his hospitalization or conveyed formal condolences to his family through appropriate channels. This demonstration of respect from both current and previous generations of leadership highlights Wang’s enduring legacy within Chinese political circles.
The passing of Wang Bingqian marks the departure of one of China’s century-old revolutionary generation, whose career trajectory mirrored the nation’s modern political development through various historical periods.