BEIJING - Chinese President Hu Jintao expressed his condolences Monday over the death of former Cambodian king Norodom Sihanouk.

In his message to reigning king Norodom Sihamoni and former queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, Hu also sent sincere condolences to the government and people of Cambodia.

Hu said the death of Sihanouk, who led the Cambodians to independence, national reconciliation and peaceful development, was a huge loss to the Cambodian people.

Sihanouk was a great friend of the Chinese people and had contributed much to the strengthening of the friendship between the peoples of the two countries, Hu said.

Hu also expressed his firm belief that, with the joint efforts of the two countries, the China-Cambodia relationship would continue its strong growth momentum, bringing benefits to both peoples.

On the same day, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Jia Qinglin also sent condolence messages to senior Cambodian leaders over the former king's death.

Born on October 31st, 1922, Norodom Sihanouk reigned from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 till his voluntary abdication on October 7th, 2004 in favor of his son, the current king Sihamoni. He died of illness at the age of 90 Monday morning.