China is mourning the death of former West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, a "pioneer of China-Germany relations," said a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.
Schmidt, who served as Chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982, died aged 96 at his home in Hamburg on Tuesday afternoon.
"China expresses deep condolences on the death of Mr. Schmidt and extends sincere sympathies to his family," spokesperson Hong Lei said at a routine press briefing.
"His death is a great loss to his country and the world," Hong said.
Schmidt made distinguished contributions to German nation-building and European integration, according to Hong.
He did a lot of work to promote cooperation and understanding between China and Germany, according to the spokesperson
Schmidt made the first of many visits to China in 1975.
