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BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday expressed deep condolences over the sudden death of Vitaly Churkin, Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations.
"We were shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Ambassador Churkin," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a daily news briefing.
Churkin died on Monday in New York, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"Ambassador Churkin is a respected and outstanding diplomat," Geng said, adding that Churkin's death was not only a loss for Russia, but also the UN.
Geng hailed the close communication between China and Russia in international and regional issues as well as mutual support in the UN and other international organizations.
Geng said China is willing to work with Russia to play constructive roles in maintaining peace and promoting development in the world.
Churkin has been Russian permanent representative since 2006. He appears to have suffered an apparent heart attack in New York on the eve of his 65th birthday.
Born Feb. 21, 1952 in Moscow, Churkin served as ambassador-at-large at the Russian Foreign Ministry from 2003 to 2006, before his appointment as ambassador to the United Nations. He was Russian ambassador to Canada from 1998 to 2003, and to Belgium from 1994 to 1998.
