Li Yuanchao, other world leaders head to South Africa for Mandela memorial
Vice-President Li Yuanchao will attend as Chinese in South Africa remember Nelson Mandela as broad-minded and a friend of China
Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao today joins an unprecedented gathering of dignitaries past and present, celebrities and thousands of ordinary South Africans at the main memorial service for Nelson Mandela.
As they prepared to celebrate his life, Chinese people in South Africa and elsewhere hailed him as a friend of China.
More than 70 national leaders from US President Barack Obama to Iran's Hassan Rowhani were flying to South Africa to pay tribute to one of humanity's great peacemakers at the Soccer City Stadium in Soweto.
The Dalai Lama, who has twice been unable to obtain a visa to South Africa, will not attend, with a spokesman saying only that "logistically it's impossible at this time".
Li, who will be in South Africa until tomorrow, said Mandela spent all his life advocating and implementing racial equality and reconciliation.
That sentiment was echoed by Chen Yuling, president of the South Africa Chinese Education Foundation, who said her heart was broken as if she had lost an old friend or a family member when she heard of the former South African president's death.