President Hu Jintao has sent a letter of condolence to Rawhi Fattuh, speaker of the Palestine Legislative Council, on the death of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

"His passing away is a great loss for Palestinians," Hu said, "The Chinese people have lost a great friend."

Hu hailed Arafat as a great leader and an outstanding statesman who had dedicated his whole life to the just cause of restoring the rights of the Palestinian people. Arafat enjoys profound respect among his people and great prestige in the international community, Hu added.

Arafat was a founder and proponent of Sino-Palestinian relations and made great contribution to consolidating and developing the friendship between the two, Hu noted.

Hu expressed a conviction that the Palestinian government and people will carry forward Arafat's uncompleted work, continuing to advance the peace process in the Middle East, and making unremitting efforts to resolve issues through political means.

China stands ready to work with the Palestinian Authority to further boost friendly relations, said the Chinese president.

(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2004)