Full coverage: China’s Leaders

BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday offered his condolence over the death of Uzbek President Islam Karimov, and expressed sympathies on behalf of the Chinese government and people, as well as in his own name.

Karimov died Friday of a stroke at age 78 in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent after 25 years of rule in the Central Asian nation since its independence from the Soviet Union.

In the condolence telegram to Nigmatulla Yuldashev, head of Senate of Uzbekistan's Supreme Assembly, Xi spoke highly of Karimov's historic contributions to the country's independence, development and prosperity, while praising his commitment to the cooperation and the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Uzbekistan.

Karimov's unfortunate passing is not only a huge loss to the Uzbek people, but also means the Chinese people have lost a true friend, he said.

Xi also said China highly values developing China-Uzbekistan relations and will work together with Uzbekistan to enhance their good-neighborly ties and deepen their mutually-beneficial cooperation for the benefit of the two countries and their peoples.

Under the Uzbek constitution, the presidential duties will pass temporarily to Yuldashev until an election can be held within three months.