Xinhua has published an article about Zhao Ziyang’s cremation this morning. The same article was published verbatim on the People’s Daily website.
Remains of Comrade Zhao Ziyang cremated in Beijing
Comrade Zhao Ziyang, who passed away on Jan. 17 at the age of 85, was cremated at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in western Beijing Saturday morning.
On behalf of the leaders of the central authorities, Comrade Jia Qinglin and other senior officials including He Guoqiang, Wang Gang and Hua Jianmin, were at the cemetery to bid farewell to the remains of Comrade Zhao. They also expressed condolences to Zhao’s families…
…Born in October 1919 in Huaxian County of central China’s Henan Province, Comrade Zhao joined the Communist Youth League of China in March 1932 and started his revolutionary career in 1937. He joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in February 1938.
During the years of revolutionary wars and the period of socialist construction, Comrade Zhao successively served as the chief leader of the CPC committees at the county, prefectural and provincial levels. In the early years of China’s reform and opening-up drive, he successively held important leading positionsof the CPC Central Committee and the State, making contribution to the cause of the Party and the people. In the political turbulence which took place in the late spring and early summer of 1989, Comrade Zhao committed serious mistakes. (Emphasis added)
LINKS:
Xinhua article in Chinese on the People’s Daily website
UPDATE: Bill Bishop of the blog Billsdue points out that the Chinese language reports about Zhao’s funeral “used the word ”风波“（turbulence) as opposed to the word ”动乱“ (turmoil; a very loaded word in Chinese political history) [to describe the events of 1989]. This is one of the most sensitive statements the Chinese government has issued in years, and you can be sure every word was approved at the top. I believe this subtle change is progress for China”.
Billsdue’s post is here.