Then vice-president Xi Jinping, right, meets Singapore's former prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, in this May 23, 2011, file photo. [Photo by Xu Jingxing/Asianewsphoto]

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a message of condolences to Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam over the death of former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

In his message, Xi deeply mourned the death of Lee and extended condolences to Lee's family on behalf of the Chinese government and people and in his own name.

Lee was the founder of Singapore and a strategist and statesman widely respected by the international community, said Xi.

He was also an old friend of the Chinese people and the founder, pioneer and promoter of China-Singapore relations, said Xi.

Lee and the old generations of Chinese leaders jointly set the direction of China-Singapore ties, said Xi, adding that Lee made great contributions to enhancing friendship of the two peoples and broadening bilateral cooperation.

The death of Lee is a loss to the people of Singapore, and to the international community as well, Xi added.

Lee died early Monday at the age of 91.

Stressing that China attaches great importance to the development of friendly cooperative relations with Singapore, Xi said China is willing to work with Singapore to continue traditional friendship between the two countries, consolidate their good-neighborly ties and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation so as to benefit the two countries and peoples.