China's Hu Jintao hails Censu Tabone as 'outstanding statesman'

Chinese President Hu Jintao has sent his profound condolences to President George Abela over the death of President Emeritus Censu Tabone.

In his message, published by China's news agency Xinhua, President Jintao conveyed condolences to the government and people of Malta, as well as relatives of the former President.

Jintao described Tabone, as "an outstanding statesman and respected

medical expert, was an old friend of the Chinese people and had contributed much to the strengthening of the friendship between  the peoples of the two countries."

He also conveyed his firm belief that, with the joint  efforts of the two countries, the China-Malta relationship would  continue to maintain strong momentum, bringing benefits to both peoples.

Hailed as the 'gentleman, statesman', Censu Tabone will be granted a State Funeral, and will lay in State throughout today at the Palace in Valletta.

Hundreds of people saluted the funeral cortege which departed from the former President's home in St. Julian's yesterday afternoon and made it's way to Valletta.

Censu Tabone was given a touching farewell from his wife Maria, relatives, friends, neighbours and former collegues, as his grandchildren carried his coffin out of his residence in his adopted hometown, St Julian's.

The cortege brought the traffic to a standstill, however everybody paid respect to the former President of the Republic in silence.

The cortege made brief stops by the Nationalist Party Clubs in St. Julian's and Ta' Xbiex which had served as his constituency meeting places, and proceed towards the PN Headquarters in Pieta' where was saluted by PN secretary general Paul Borg Olivier, Ministers and former President and colleague Eddie Fenech Adami. The cortege then proceeded to Valletta through Republic Street. In St. Julian's MP Francis Zammit Dimech led the PN sectional committee delegation which saluted Censu Tabone.

Escorted by Police outriders, the cortege was escorted by the Armed Forces and carried into the Palace doorway where he lays in State. He was saluted by President George Abela, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

Today, the general public may pay tribute to President Tabone between 09:30am and '1:30pm and from 3pm to 7pm.

The State Funeral will be held at 10am tomorrow, with a cortege that will leave the Palace for St. John's Co-Cathederal, and high mass which will be celebrated by the Archbishop of Malta Mgr. Paul Cremona and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech.

Following mass, the cortege will leave Valletta under military escort through Floriana to Marfa, and will make stops in Sliema outside the Sacra Cuor Band Club where President Tabone had served as President for 23 years.

Another tribute will be made outside the PN club in Melliaha.

The cortege will arrive in Marfa at 2:35pm and be escorted on an AFM patrol boat to Gozo, and proceed to Xewkija where a private burial will take place.

Government has ordered all flags on public buildings to be flown at half-mast.