Chinese leaders have expressed condolences over the death of United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahayan, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue Thursday.

When asked to make comments on President Sheikh Zayed's death, Zhang said at a regular press conference that Chinese President Hu Jintao had sent separate messages to Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al-Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE, and Sheikh Khaleifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi, offering condolences over the death of President Sheikh Zayed and expressing sympathy for the UAE people and especially for late President Sheikh Zayed's family.

Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan went to the UAE Embassy in Beijing on Wednesday and delivered words of condolence, and Chinese ambassador to the UAE attended the funeral of Sheikh Zayed on behalf of the Chinese government, Zhang said.

Sheikh Zayed, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 86, was elected the first President of the UAE in 1971 and reelected at five-year intervals in 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991 and 2001.

Sheikh Zayed enjoyed a good fame in the international community, Zhang said, noting that he attached great importance to developing relations with China in his life, and once visited China in 1990.

Zhang said the death of President Sheikh Zayed not only was a loss of the UAE people, but also made the Chinese people lose a close friend.

After President Sheikh Zayed's death, Sheikh Khalifa has been chosen as new president of the UAE on Wednesday. Chinese President Hu Jintao had sent a message to express congratulations for him, Zhang said.

According to the spokeswoman, special envoy of the Chinese government and Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will left here for the UAE on Friday to express condolence for the late President Sheikh Zayed and also to express congratulations for the accession of new president.

Zhang said the Chinese side values the friendly and cooperative relations with the UAE, and believes that the new leadership of the UAE will continue to be devoted for the unfinished career of the late President Sheikh Zayed.

China is willing to make concerted efforts with the UAE to promote the further development of the friendly and cooperative ties between the two sides, Zhang added.