The memorial service of Zhao Ziyang, former Chinese Communist Party General Secretary, was held on the morning of January 29 at the Babaoshan Public Cemetery in Beijing. Zhao’s body was cremated after the service. Jia Qinglin, CCP Politburo Standing Committee member and Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, attended the ceremony. The official Chinese government media Xinhua News Agency briefly reported on Zhao’s biography, with a mixed evaluation of both contributions and mistakes.

Also present at the service in Babaoshan were Politburo member and Minister of Organization Ministry He Guoqiang, Politburo alternate member and CCP Central Office director Wang Gang, and State Council member and State Council General Secretary Hua Jianmin. These leaders offered condolence to Zhao’s family.

The Xinhua report provided a brief biography of Zhao. It said that Zhao had shouldered important Party and national leadership responsibilities in the early stages of the economic reform, and “made contributions.” However, in the political turmoil of early summer 1989, he “made a serious mistake.”

The report also said that during Zhao’s hospital treatment and when Zhao was seriously ill, the CCP established a special medical team to rescue him. Vice President of China Zeng Qinghong visited Zhao during Zhao’s last days in the hospital.

The CCP Central Office, CCP Organization Ministry, State Council General Office, and National Political Consultative Conference Office brought wreaths of flowers for the memorial service. Zhao’s family members, staff, friends, representatives from his home city, representatives from the areas where he worked, CCP Central staff and national government staff representatives also attend the ceremony.

Zhao died on January 17, 2005. He was 85.