In this April 26, 2013 photo, Ezra Vogel receives an interview in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, with his book "Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China" in the foreground. (PHOTO / VCG)

BEIJING - Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently sent condolences respectively to Charlotte Ikels, wife of Professor Ezra Vogel, over the passing of the renowned sinologist.

Yang, who is also director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, and Wang extended sincere sympathies to Vogel's family and hailed him as "an old friend" of the Chinese people.

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"Vogel was an old friend of the Chinese people, who had made positive contributions to promoting communication and exchanges between China and the United States, as well as advancing friendship and mutual trust between the two countries," said Yang and Wang.

The Chinese people will remember and miss him, they added.