Chinese leaders honour legendary Communist Party veteran Song Ping

Xi Jinping at the ceremony for Song Ping -- image via the State Council of the PRC

On Tuesday, March 10, Chinese leaders including Xi Jinping and Li Qiang paid their respects to the legendary Communist Party veteran Song Ping at a ceremonial event in Beijing.

The ceremony took place at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing, where the remains of Song Ping were cremated following his death on March 4 at the age of 109. Current top leaders Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, and Han Zheng also attended the event to pay their final respects. They solemnly stood in silent tribute and bowed three times in front of his remains, which had been draped with the red flag of the Communist Party. Former President Hu Jintao sent a wreath to express condolences.

Born to a family of farmers in 1917 in Shandong Province, Song Ping joined the Communist Party of China in 1937 and became a revolutionary at a young age. He played a significant role in China’s political landscape following the founding of the People's Republic of China. Early in his career, he served in the Northeast Federation of Trade Unions, where he held positions including director of the Cultural and Educational Department, secretary-general, and vice chairman of the federation.

He also had a close personal connection with China's first premier, Zhou Enlai, serving briefly as Zhou's personal secretary. Over the decades, Song became recognized as a senior party elder, contributing to the rise of later Chinese leaders and being involved in significant communist leadership decisions. He became a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo in June 1989, playing a central role in China’s government under Deng Xiaoping. Song is also widely credited with bringing Hu Jintao into prominence and was respected across generations for his seniority and contributions to the Communist Party of China.