Chinese President Xi Jinping has mourned the passing of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro as he visited the Cuban Embassy in Beijing to pay his last respects on Tuesday.

President Xi, along with Chinese officials, signed the Book of Condolences at the embassy for the death of Castro, saying the Chinese government and people stand with the Cuban people "at this special moment."

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"My deep condolences for the death of the excellent leader of the Cuban people and the great friend of the Chinese people," the president wrote in the book at the Cuban embassy in Beijing.

.The communist-backed newspaper, Global Times, said Xi was moved when he received the news of Castro's death upon his arrival from the APEC summit held in Peru last week.

Legacy

Xi said that with Castro's death, the Cuban government, under the leadership of Raul Castro, and the people will carry on the legacy of the revolutionary leader and would continue to make "new achievements" in the country and develop socialism.

President Xi will skip Castro's funeral to be held in Cuba this week and will instead send Vice President Li Yuanchao and a delegation to represent Beijing.

Chinese academicians told the Global Times that the deep relationship between Cuba and China was highlighted by President Xi's rare display of deep sympathies at the embassy.

Charismatic

Xu Shicheng, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Castro's charismatic leadership has inspired many Chinese people to achieve their goals in the small nation.

A large number of Chinese citizens have visited the embassy since Friday following the death of the 90-year-old Castro.

The Chinese mourners laid wreaths and flowers outside the Cuban embassy to show respect to the late Cuban leader. 

TagsFidel Castro death, President Xi Jinping, Cuba, Book of Condolences, Cuban Embassy