World leaders pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth, ‘stalwart of our times’
- Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, died peacefully at her home in Scotland on Thursday aged 96
- Tributes and expressions of sympathy have poured in from world leaders and fellow monarchs around the globe
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Queen Elizabeth dies at the age of 96
Leaders, many of whom were not born when Elizabeth assumed the throne, mourned the loss for Britain and wondered what the new era will hold for a nation mired in rocky politics and unrest, above which the queen often stood as a calming, unifying force.
And citizens from former parts of the once-vast British Empire, including some who oppose the monarchy, paid homage to the queen.
In Beijing on Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping offered “sincere sympathies to the British government and people”.
“Xi Jinping, representing the Chinese government and the Chinese people, as well as in his own name, expresses deep condolences,” a statement said, adding: “Her passing is a great loss to the British people.”
The statement, released on Chinese state media, noted the queen was the first British monarch to visit China and praised the longevity of her reign.